Restoration

it would make a very satisfying hobby

Yup it can be satisfying when it's done at your leisure

Hello big ed,
Just read this thread and am fascinated with your restoration results. I have a piece where the glaze has worn thin and would like to restore it. Please could you recommend a good ceramic glaze varnish.

I assume there a many glaze varnish products out there , I have only used Craft PVA , this is a hobbycraft product , it is a multi purpose medium which dries clear , it can be used for gluing , painting mix and glazes , it's pretty cheap ,you could try it and see what you think , Ed

just restored the top of this arch (well those are teracotta tiles)

got this Castle Hedingham from Naomi , one lower handle missing , Iv'e put white milliput on the lower green part and terracotta on the braided part , sanded down in parts then painted with acrylic and glazed with pva , probably need another going over but it's soundly attached so ok .

an undercoating

you have a natural talent there Ed

Thanks Dan , it needs a bit more refining , but then again these pieces aren't known for their finesse, it is something that i might look into one day as long as the work doesn't get too tricky , iv'e only done 3 or 4 before so might be worth reading up on .

Ed can you tell me the best thing to stick my flamingo head back on? its a very clean break but I read somewhere not to use epoxy resin.

I'm no expert at all , try UHU it's general purpose .

zippy wrote:Ed can you tell me the best thing to stick my flamingo head back on? its a very clean break but I read somewhere not to use epoxy resin.

Superglue. clean the surfaces first, practice joining them up, use a tiny amount, you only have one shot at it!

I might give it a go then but better put my glasses on : )

depends on what it's made of

stoneware and porcelain - araldite precision or rapid
earthenware - cellulose nitrate

HMG Cellulose Nitrate? Is that the stuff?

yes that's a common brand

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251857483490?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Iv'e really got my work cut out with this one , Hannah McAndrew Kindly picked it up for me and posted it , despite expertly packing it didn't survive the ordeal and is broken in half and parts missing the top half is like a road map with cracks running everywhere , it's filthy with yrs of neglect ( been outside for yonks ) I did manage to make out the base mark incised C Gorry 69 , will post pics and see what occurs ( i may be some time ) pity as it was a magnificent piece at one time .

I know a terrific restorer in Brentwood

NaomiM wrote:Tbh Ed, it didn't look like it would survive being taken off the shelf let alone being posted!

I agree , but the seller never mentioned cracks , etc , but hey ho it was cheap and I'll enjoy having a go at repair and clean , the Colin Pearson influence is definitely there in it .