How to Care for Antique Ceramics and Porcelain
Antique ceramics are hard but brittle. Most serious damage happens during handling, cleaning or an unstable display, so prevention matters more than frequent washing.
Inspect before touching
Look for cracks, old adhesive, metal staples, lifting enamel, flaking gilding and loose lids. A repaired object is weaker than an unbroken one. If the surface is powdery, salt-encrusted or archaeological, consult a conservator.
Handle from the base
Use clean, dry hands and remove rings or dangling jewellery. Support the object beneath its centre of gravity with both hands. Never lift by a handle, spout, rim or finial. Remove a loose lid and carry it separately.
The [Canadian Conservation Institute](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/preventive-conservation/guidelines-collections/ceramics-glass-preventive-conservation.html) identifies handling, moving and cleaning as periods of greatest risk and recommends supporting ceramic objects from below.
Dust conservatively
For stable glazed surfaces, use a clean soft brush while holding a low-suction vacuum nearby with a protective screen. Avoid cloths on projecting or flaking decoration because fibres can catch.
Do not immerse a piece merely because it looks dirty. Unglazed, low-fired, cracked, restored, gilded and overglaze-painted ceramics may be water-sensitive. Household detergent, bleach, dishwasher heat and abrasive cleaners can cause permanent damage.
Display securely
Use a stable cabinet or shelf away from edges, vibration and busy routes. Do not stack valuable plates. Use inert padded supports for unstable forms and suitable plate stands that do not concentrate pressure.
Avoid spring-loaded hangers and adhesive mounting products. Secure displays in homes with children, pets or vibration risks.
Store with support
Prevent pieces from touching one another. Use individual padded spaces and keep lids separate or cushioned so they cannot rattle. Protect from dust to reduce cleaning.
Watch the environment
Sound ceramics tolerate normal indoor conditions reasonably well, but repairs, salts and some decorations are sensitive. Avoid rapid temperature changes, direct heat and damp. Never place a cold object into hot water.
When to seek help
Consult a ceramics conservator for structural cracks, failing joins, stains within porous bodies, active salts, flaking decoration or valuable pieces requiring cleaning. Keep every detached fragment in a labelled container.
For practical restoration demonstrations and workshop stories, [watch and subscribe to Antique Repair Shop on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).
Sources and further reading
- [Canadian Conservation Institute: Caring for ceramic and glass objects](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/preventive-conservation/guidelines-collections/ceramics-glass-preventive-conservation.html)
- [Canadian Conservation Institute: Care of ceramics and glass](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-ceramics-glass.html)