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Cleaning
plates
Avoid damaging your antique plates, by learning how to clean
them correctly with our simple guide:
* Use an aerosol of compressed air to remove surface dust.
* Wash the plate with a soft brush in warm water with a little,
gentle washing-up liquid.
* Rinse with clean water of the same temperature.
* Put the plates aside to dry naturally - don't rub them dry.
NB Never use abrasive products, bathroom cleaners, dishwasher
powders or bleach on ceramics.
Repairing
Don't heat up cracked plates in the oven. This can extend
the crack, split the object altogether or open up old repairs.
There are many kinds of adhesives and their use in repair
of valued ceramics requires training and an understanding
of chemistry. If you do use adhesive at home to repair a ceramic
you'll probably find it seeps out. Commercial glues can easily
yellow and can be difficult to remove.
Hydrogen peroxide and sterilising preparations are sometimes
recommended for cleaning ceramics but don't use them. Their
ingredients can react and cause damage, including staining.
Sandpaper and scalpels should not be used.
Painting a damaged area should be avoided as you won't get
an exact colour match (there are over 100 shades of white);
colour matching takes great skill and training.
Soaking old ceramics can have hidden dangers. Old repairs
could become loose, and porous pieces will absorb water that
could cause future damage.
If a ceramic has been repaired (even by a conservator),
don't use it for serving food. It could be a health hazard.
If you discover damage on a piece that is special to you,
contact a qualified ceramics conservator to discuss treatment.
A bad home repair will cost more to rectify than getting professional
advice from the start.
Preventing accidents
Although you can't prevent accidents, you can certainly
take precautions to make sure the risk is reduced:
Avoid handling cups, pots and vases by the handles or other
vulnerable areas. Age and hidden repairs may have weakened
them. Hairline cracks worsen with rough handling. When carrying
ceramics be aware of loose pieces like lids that could come
off. Remove them first and carry pieces with two hands. If
you have heavy items, make sure they are well supported and
get help with doors. It is often safer to move items (even
within your home) in a box or basket padded with tissue or
clean cloths.
Displaying
Part of the joy of collecting ceramics is being able to
appreciate them in your home environment and putting them
on display. Make sure that by doing this, however, you're
not exposing them to any risk of damage. Consider the following:
* Are they somewhere that people (or animals) could knock
them off?
* Is your home prone to vibrations from trains/traffic or
planes?
* Will pieces suffer from nicotine stains or coal dust?
Display cabinets are often the best place for ceramics.
Make sure objects can be set back from the edge and that there
is enough space between each item. Plate stands are also decorative
ways to display your plates. But make sure they are stable
and won't topple over easily.
If you want to display a plate on the wall, try using spring-loaded,
plastic-coated wire racks. Make sure the rack fits the plate
properly - if it's too small and is difficult to place around
the edge of the plate it will cause unecessary stress.
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