FAQs about Restoration

Restoration vs. Conservation
Conservation is a minimalist, museum-style approach that stabilizes the item and helps prevent further deterioration. Restoration involves sculpting missing parts and retouching. However, an experienced and ethical ceramic restorer always uses the conservation method to strengthen objects, remove accumulations of old repairs that may injure the object, and works with only those materials that won’t damage the object’s substance, thus preserving and protecting it for future generations.

What Do We Restore?
Our specialties are ceramic restoration and all the objects and materials that are part of the ceramic family (porcelain, china, majolica, terra cotta), plaster restoration, and glass restoration. We do not restore brass, copper, iron, or wood. Here is a more complete list of items we restore.

A damaged item does not have to be of monetary value. Although many of our clients are U.S. and International dealers and antique collectors, we often work with individuals who want to restore porcelain, ceramic or glass items that have great sentimental value to them. All the items get the personal attention of the experienced and knowledgeable restorer.

Should I Repair It Myself?
No! The process of ceramic restoration is time-consuming and complex, and your attempt at a restoration, no matter how clean and neat you may think it is, will only interfere with the process and lead to a greater cost when the damage caused by an amateur repair has to be undone.

How Long Will It Take?
Restoration work is time consuming. Ceramic restoration and porcelain restoration require several levels of repair; glass restoration takes a little longer because liquid glass needs time to dry. Air pressure, temperature, and humidity have effects on the restoration process. However, unless the object is very large and has a very severe damage, our turnaround time is no longer than three to four weeks.

What Is Invisible Restoration?
To achieve an invisible restoration, a professional restorer glues and fuses the broken pieces, fills in the cracks (and in some cases sculpts the missing fragments), perfectly matches the color and pattern/design, airbrushes and glazes. The restorer must be able to paint in many different traditional ceramic, majolica and terra cotta painting styles.

How Much Will It Cost?
Each item needs individual attention. Work that you may seem to be simple often requires many steps and processes to hide the repair. We ask that you e-mail us a couple of photographs of the damaged item, the measurements of the item, and a description of the damage. We will respond with an estimate.

If you need an official estimate for an insurance company, we will be happy to provide one free of charge.

If you have any questions or need additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us by e-mail: luba@luelstudio.com or by phone: 347-673-8831 or 646-251-5593. We’d love to hear from you.