How to Detect Old Repairs in Porcelain | Antique Repair Shop

Porcelain repairs range from metal staples and rivets to fills, overpainting and modern resin joins.

What to examine

Use strong diffuse and raking light to check edges, colour changes and surface texture. UV light may reveal some coatings but is not conclusive.

Avoid the common trap

Avoid probing joins or using solvents. An old repair may be collectible evidence and should be described rather than concealed.

Record your findings

Photograph the whole object, the feature in context and a close-up with scale. Note what is observed separately from any conclusion.

Reliable starting points

[V&A collections](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections)
[The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/)

Identification should combine several forms of evidence. Do not use destructive tests, and seek a specialist opinion where attribution or value matters.

Learn by looking closely

See workshop examinations and restoration details on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).