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CERAMIC AND PORCELAIN RESTORATIONConservation-minded restoration of porcelain, fine china, and ceramic objects, from tableware and figurines to sculptural and architectural pieces.
Chelsea Plating Company in Philadelphia restores porcelain, fine china, and ceramic objects for clients locally and throughout the United States. We handle ceramic restoration, porcelain restoration, china repair, and conservation-minded pottery repair for individual heirlooms, matched dinner services, figurines, and sculptural or architectural work. All treatment is carried out in our Philadelphia workshop; pieces are hand-delivered or shipped in with our packing guidance. Many visitors first find the workshop while searching for ceramic or porcelain repair near them and choose to ship their pieces to Philadelphia.
Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.
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AT A GLANCE — PORCELAIN AND CERAMIC RESTORATION
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Hand-painted porcelain vase with twin rococo handles, restored from multiple shards with reformed structure and re-gilded ornamental detailing.
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PORCELAIN, FINE CHINA, AND TABLEWARE
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Porcelain and fine china include thin, glassy bodies and often detailed decoration that benefit from careful, staged restoration. We work on single plates, partial and full services, teacups and saucers, tureens, serving pieces, and covered dishes.
Typical treatments include breaks reassembled, losses rebuilt, joins refined, and fills shaped and toned so that decoration, gilding, and glaze read as a continuous surface. On fine china, we pay particular attention to rim profiles, foot rings, and gilded borders so that the plate or cup sits correctly and presents cleanly on a table or in a cabinet. After restoration, porcelain and fine china pieces are best suited for display or very light, careful use. Adhesives and fills are not food- or heat-safe, and restored pieces should not go into dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, or soaking baths. |
Restoration of early 20th-century Grosvenor bone china teacup, reassembled from seven fragments with seamless reintegration of gold trim.
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CERAMIC, POTTERY, AND STUDIO WORK
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Beyond porcelain, the workshop restores a wide range of non-porcelain ceramics: earthenware, stoneware, terracotta, majolica, faience, art pottery, studio ceramics, and sculptural or architectural elements. These may be heavier functional pieces, decorative vases, tiles, lamp bases, or signed studio works.
For these objects, damage can include fractures through the body, chips along rims or bases, losses at handles, and impact-related crushes. We stabilize the structure, rebuild missing areas, and adjust the surface so the form reads clearly again. Where appropriate, glaze tone is blended and decoration integrated while keeping evidence of age and original making visible. Contemporary studio ceramics and artist-signed work are treated with the same care, often with special attention to surface texture, firing effects, and the maker’s original intent. Treatment is discussed case by case so the level of visual integration is appropriate to the object and its future use. |
Contemporary ceramic sculpture by Toshiko Takaezu, restored from multiple fragments with full contour reconstruction and glaze continuity preserved.
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PROCESS, SHIPPING, AND USE AFTER RESTORATION
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Most projects begin with clear photographs and basic dimensions of the damaged piece or set. From these, we can usually outline a proposed approach, anticipated treatments, and a general cost range before the piece travels to Philadelphia. Once the object is in the workshop, details are confirmed and any adjustments to the plan are discussed.
We provide packing guidance before shipping so fragile pieces can travel as safely as possible, including suggestions for padding, double-boxing, and labeling. Local clients often schedule a hand-delivery appointment. For clients across the United States, pieces are shipped in using the carrier of their choice; we then arrange return shipping from the workshop once treatment is complete. Adhesives and fills used in ceramic and porcelain restoration are not food- or heat-safe. Restored pieces are intended for decorative or very light, careful use. They should be kept away from dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, and prolonged water contact. For vases or vessels that may be used with water and flowers, we recommend a separate watertight liner so the restored ceramic body remains protected. |
Reconstruction of 19th-century English transferware bowl, restored from multiple fragments with precise alignment of floral and pastoral motifs.
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Send clear photos and dimensions to begin.
