Porcelain maintenance and repair

Don't wear gloves when you are playing porcelain, because it is easy for porcelain to slip off your hands. Your hands should be kept clean and dry. Rings or other jewelry should be removed from your hands. This is done when touching unglazed pottery. These pottery can easily fade or absorb dust, grease, and moisture. When holding the porcelain, grab their bodies, not the handles or the ends, such as the spouts, because they are easily broken. When picking up a piece of porcelain, remove the part that can be separated (such as a lid, etc.).

The method of storing and displaying porcelain in East and West is very different. In Asia, collectors often store porcelain in specially crafted boxes, often with a few eye-catching covers to remind collectors. The popular practice in the West is to display porcelain in a grid or on a stand. If you have a display cabinet, make sure that the shelves in the cabinet are firm. Do not use shelves made of wire or springs, as they will damage the corners of the porcelain, especially porcelain made of slightly soft materials.

The ideal method of display is to put the porcelain in custom cabinets, at least to place them in a fixed place on the cabinet or on a lined shelf. If you must put several pieces of porcelain together, be sure to use a sponge or foam to avoid direct contact with each other.

Cleaning dust is a necessary step in cleaning porcelain. A soft brush or a shaving brush is an effective tool for cleaning porcelain crevices. If further cleaning is required, first wipe the porcelain with a damp cloth and do not immerse them directly in the water. If the dust is wet, the porcelain will become very slippery. Remember, before starting cleaning, be sure to keep the porcelain collections in a safe place.

Never clean unglazed pottery as this material is absorbent. Even if you want to clean a glazed porcelain, use a mild detergent because glazes can sometimes be damaged. Warm water should be used. The hot water will loosen the glue on the porcelain and it may be damaged in places that have been repaired in the past. Never wash porcelain in the dishwasher. The porcelain with other decoration or repair needs special treatment because the metal reacts with the cleaning material. If you have any questions, you should consult an expert.

There are two methods for repairing porcelain: museum restorations and hidden restorations. The museum restoration method does not completely conceal the traces of damage. It is the most ideal way for serious collectors. The hidden repair rules try to completely eliminate any traces of damage. Asian collectors usually use diametrically opposed materials for repairs. For example, they use gold paint to fill the crack lines, and the traces of the repairs become a feature of the porcelain itself. However, keep in mind that all repair work must be done by experts.