Back to: Transferware Collectors Club Website

Re-doing repairs Posted by Susan on March 18, 2008, 8:18 am 75.69.128.116 Begging your indulgence. Having just found all these lovely pieces again, I am fascinated with transferware! I certainly wasn't old enough to appreciate them when I received them. I am wondering if/how I can un-glue and re-glue repairs my grandmother made on the lips of a couple of pitchers and what glue you would recommend. I thought I should probably leave the hairline crack on the handle alone as I didn't know how I could get the glue in there. Do you agree? I read the hydrogen peroxide thread and am thinking I'd CAREFULLY try that on a couple of the platters and covered vegetable bowls but not right away. What turns them brown anyway? If someone could suggest a website that deals with repair/cleaning with actual suggestions or a book I might ask for at the library, that would be wonderful. Does anyone have a suggestion on where I should go to pick up some plate display stands or what is best? Plastic/metal? I don't have a lot of money (which is why I am waiting until July to join the club) but I would like to get all these pieces looking a little better and out where I can enjoy them! Thanks so much. Susan  Post a Response

Re: Re-doing repairs Posted by David Hoexter on March 18, 2008, 12:14 pm, in reply to "Re-doing repairs" 75.36.131.83 Hi Susan: First, as to TCC membership: as I am married to the TCC Membership Chair, I feel authorized to inform you that you are welcome to join now, and we will be happy to extend your membership through June 30 2009. Second, as to old repairs etc (and of course this is personal opinion, not that of the TCC): we do a lot of "cleaning" with hydrogen peroxide. I have generally found that most pieces with old degrading repairs are much improved in appearance by removing the repair. Of course, you may lose some of the piece, including part of the transfer. You have to examine the piece carefully and make your decisions. If the damage is a hairline, it can be easily stabilized by forcing 2-part epoxy glue into the crack and removing excess (carefully) with acetone (available at any hardware store) or even nail polish remover. Watch your eyes and skin! The pottery is actually somewhat porous and permeable, including the glazed surface. The brown coloring can be various compounds which have come into contact with the piece, including sugar, tea, coffee, various fats, etc. Occasionally, some sort of mold or such, which in my experience is the most difficult to remove. There are various approaches and philosophies to cleaning pottery. I don't really want to devote time to how we do it, but the one thing I will say is do not ever under any circumstance use household bleach. You will ruin the piece. You do use hydrogen peroxide. My basic approach is that unless the piece is really valuable, why not go ahead and have fun.  Post a Response

Re: Re-doing repairs - Recipe for Cleaning Transferware Posted by Sarah Eigen on May 26, 2008, 8:22 am, in reply to "Re: Re-doing repairs" 66.108.83.201 I am including a step-by-step recipe, using hydrogen peroxide. If it doesn't appear clearly, feel free to let me know at eudora@nyc.rr.com and I will send you a Word attachment. CLEANING STAINED TRANSFERWARE 1. Buy strong hydrogen peroxide, about 40%. It is fairly inexpensive and available at hairdressing supply stores, e.g. Ricky’s. Drugstores usually have some, but it is a weaker solution. Wear rubber gloves while doing the treatment to protect your skin. 2. Also buy a packet of cotton wool pads, in the cosmetics section of your drugstore. These will be used for applying the hydrogen peroxide on the item you are cleaning, especially for specific parts. You can also use white paper toweling, at least double sheets, for larger areas.. 3. Spread a long sheet of aluminum foil on the counter, enough to cover item from bottom to top. The foil will be a support for the plastic wrap. 4. Spread a long sheet of plastic wrap on the aluminum foil, enough to cover the item. 5. Place the item on the plastic wrap. Place cotton wool pads (or paper toweling)on the most stained areas. Gently poor some hydrogen peroxide on these items. If there are large stained areas, use plain white paper toweling, and preferably two layers. For platters, apply the hydrogen peroxide on stains on both the upper side and lower side of the platter. You should apply enough solution that it is quite moist on the areas you are treating. 6. Pull the plastic wrap around the item to seal the hydrogen peroxide and prevent it from evaporating. Then adjust the outer aluminum wrapping. Put the item aside, and leave it for at least 12 hours. If the cleaning is working, the cotton pads or paper toweling pads will show yellow-brown marks. Repeat for up to two days, and then rinse the item a number of times, to ensure the remaining hydrogen peroxide is washed away. 7. For very stubborn stains, apply the solution, and pack it with the plastic wrap and outer aluminum wrapping, and put in an oven with a very low temperature, 200o, and leave for one to two hours. This has quite remarkable results! Warning: for any item with delicate colors, or colors applied over the glaze, do not use this method. Certain 19th C. colors tend to be very fragile: some turquoise / aqua colors are particularly sensitive. Sarah Eigen 19th Century Decorative Arts Eudora@nyc.rr.com 7.25.2006  Post a Response

Re: Re-doing repairs Posted by Susan on March 18, 2008, 12:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Re-doing repairs" 75.69.128.116 Thanks so much David! Very informative. I *will* take you up on the membership & extension to June 2009! Thank you. I am pretty excited about how much I can find out and do. The message board is a great reference tool and I really appreciate your 'why not have fun' approach! Susan  Post a Response

Re: Re-doing repairs Posted by Michael on March 28, 2008, 10:08 am, in reply to "Re: Re-doing repairs" 71.232.98.92 Susan, glad to hear about your going to rejoin. I second David's comments, but would like to add a little note of caution should you decide to clean pieces yourself. You have to use 40 or 100 volume hydrogen peroxide, available ONLY at beauty supply places. The stuff you find in the pharmacy/supermarket is simply not strong enough to do any good. If you do use the higher concentration peroxide, BE VERY CAREFUL...it is extremely caustic and can really burn the skin. Use industrial strength rubber gloves (for liquid chemical use) and be sure pieces are washed thorough once they are out of the peroxide. And when you heat them in your oven, be careful of the fumes, especially when you first open the oven door. Good Luck and enjoy! Michael  Post a Response

Display holders Posted by Susan on March 18, 2008, 8:32 am, in reply to "Re-doing repairs" 75.69.128.116 Sorry. Just read the January 2007 post re: Ebay purchases of plate/platter holders. I live in the northeastern U.S.and our brains are still frozen up here!  Post a Response

     «Back to thread

Back to: Transferware Collectors Club Website