ABOUT CHELSEA PLATING COMPANY
Chelsea Plating Company in Philadelphia restores silver, brass, copper, bronze, gold, ceramics, lighting, and other historic and decorative objects for clients in the city and throughout the United States. Founded in 1948, the workshop has focused on antique restoration and repair for more than seventy-five years.
The work centers on careful restoration and conservation-minded repair of pieces that are used, displayed, and passed down. Surfaces are cleaned and polished where appropriate, finishes are clarified, patina is adjusted rather than stripped, and structures are stabilized so that each piece reads as appropriate to its age and use.
Clients include individuals, dealers, designers, religious communities, clubs, museums, historic houses, universities, and other organizations. Each object is assessed individually for structure, materials, and finishes before work is proposed. Packing guidance is provided before you ship, and return shipping is arranged from the Philadelphia workshop when treatment is complete.
The work centers on careful restoration and conservation-minded repair of pieces that are used, displayed, and passed down. Surfaces are cleaned and polished where appropriate, finishes are clarified, patina is adjusted rather than stripped, and structures are stabilized so that each piece reads as appropriate to its age and use.
Clients include individuals, dealers, designers, religious communities, clubs, museums, historic houses, universities, and other organizations. Each object is assessed individually for structure, materials, and finishes before work is proposed. Packing guidance is provided before you ship, and return shipping is arranged from the Philadelphia workshop when treatment is complete.
A PHILADELPHIA RESTORATION WORKSHOP SINCE 1948
Chelsea Plating Company began as a neighborhood restoration and repair shop on Antique Row and has grown into a workshop known for steady, careful treatment of metals, ceramics, and mixed-material objects. The bench practice has developed over decades, informed by long experience with historic finishes, traditional fabrication, and the practical needs of objects that must still be handled and used.
Today the workshop continues to focus on restoration and repair rather than new manufacture. Each project is approached with the same aims: stabilize structure, clarify surfaces, and respect the original maker’s intent while preparing the piece for its next period of daily life or display.
Today the workshop continues to focus on restoration and repair rather than new manufacture. Each project is approached with the same aims: stabilize structure, clarify surfaces, and respect the original maker’s intent while preparing the piece for its next period of daily life or display.
WHAT CHELSEA PLATING COMPANY RESTORES
Chelsea Plating Company restores a wide range of materials and object types. Typical projects include:
- Silver, silverplate, and pewter tableware and service pieces
- Brass, copper, and bronze hardware, decorative objects, and architectural elements
- Gold and gilded surfaces on frames, mirrors, and small objects
- Porcelain, ceramic, fine china, pottery, and studio ceramics
- Antique lamps, chandeliers, and other light fixtures
- Trophies, presentation pieces, and club or institutional awards
- Religious and liturgical metalwork and Judaica
- Objects that combine metal, ceramic, glass, and wood
HOW PROJECTS MOVE THROUGH THE WORKSHOP
Most projects begin with clear photos and basic information sent by email. From these, an initial estimate and scope of work can often be prepared, with final details confirmed in person once the piece is in the workshop. Clients may bring objects to the studio by appointment or ship them in after receiving packing guidance.
Once on the bench, each piece is examined for structure, previous repairs, and surface condition. Proposed work typically focuses on stabilizing breaks and joins, rebuilding or filling losses where appropriate, resoldering or rewiring when needed, and clarifying finishes through cleaning, polishing, or patina adjustment. After treatment, pieces are repacked for collection or return shipment with notes on handling and care.
Once on the bench, each piece is examined for structure, previous repairs, and surface condition. Proposed work typically focuses on stabilizing breaks and joins, rebuilding or filling losses where appropriate, resoldering or rewiring when needed, and clarifying finishes through cleaning, polishing, or patina adjustment. After treatment, pieces are repacked for collection or return shipment with notes on handling and care.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Clients bring objects that matter to them and to their communities, from household pieces to ceremonial, decorative, and collection objects in many materials. Their comments reflect projects that return objects to safe use and display while preserving evidence of age and history.
The testimonials below offer a sense of how restored pieces come back into circulation with finishes clarified and structures stabilized, ready for continued use and careful display.
The testimonials below offer a sense of how restored pieces come back into circulation with finishes clarified and structures stabilized, ready for continued use and careful display.
"Saint Joseph's University has an extensive collection of objects in a variety of media that require regular care and professional treatment. Chelsea Plating has been central to our efforts to conserve our collection with repair and plating of metal objects and cleaning and repairs to works in clay and ceramic. Marc and Chris are dedicated professionals; they're even easy to work with!"
- Carmen R. Croce, Curator, Saint Joseph's University Art Collection
"Marc and Chris at Chelsea have done wonderful restoration work for us in ceramics, metals and enamels. They've managed to perfectly restore pieces for which I had little hope. Their broad knowledge base and skills make them excellent at what they do. Further, their prices are very fair, and dealing with them is always easy and pleasant."
- Robert Aibel, Founder & Owner, Moderne Gallery
"We are very fortunate to have Chelsea Plating as a reliable and professional resource for all of our metalwork. We have used Chelsea for many years in regard to our own collections. Also, as an indicator to the quality of their work, Chelsea has beautifully restored all the metalwork and many of the ceramics in the Grundy Victorian House Museum in Bristol Pennsylvania."
- John Whitenight, Curatorial Consultant, Grundy House Museum
"Their restoration work in all mediums is museum quality. Their dedication to excellence is just unmatched. I have been recommending them to my fellow professional and amateur collectors for more than five years."
- Ambassador John B. Craig
"You and your staff have just been such a great asset and problem solvers for Kody Lighting and Shades over the years. Finishing Plating, welding, fabricating, ceramic repair / painting and I can't leave out the difficult rewiring projects that I lost the patience for years ago. "
- Jake Kody, Owner, Kody Lighting and Shades
"The folks at Chelsea Plating are hands-down the premier antique metal repair and refurbishing experts in the Philadelphia region. We've been bringing our antiques to them for years now and are never less than thrilled with the results! We highly recommend their services."
- André Dombrowski, Frances Shapiro-Weitzenhoffer Associate Professor of 19th-Century European Art, Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Department of the History of Art, University of Pennsylvania
"A hidden gem of Philadelphia. The first time I set foot at Chelsea Plating I was in heaven. I wanted to have every piece of metal in my life refinished and every lamp rewired in cloth covered cords. Not to mention they can fix porcelain and ceramic! The team is beyond talented and very passionate. I love going in there to discuss finishes and possibilities to make old pieces look young again. "
- Eduardo Ardiles, Founder, Studio Edo
"I’ve relied on Chelsea Plating Co. for many years. Experts in metal and lighting restoration; they are friendly, easy to work with and provide impeccable service every time."
- James Harrison, Antique Dealer
"If you have precious metal needs Chelsea Plating is a great resource, their care and craftsmanship are first rate. A pleasure to work with."
- Peter W. Yenawine, Founder/CEO/ Chief Designer Crystal Signatures Inc. Bethlehem, PA
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
To begin a project with Chelsea Plating Company, please request an estimate.
Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.
Please include photos of the whole piece and close-ups of any damage, hallmarks, or inscriptions so the workshop can advise on likely treatment, stability, and outcome.