H. A. Eberhardt & Son Inc.
AMERICA'S OLDEST, MOST EXPERIENCED RESTORERS  OF OBJECTS OF ART
Philadelphia's largest antique dealer specializing in porcelain, glassware and orientalia

Prices for repairing and restoring broken antique ceramic china, porcelain, crystal, glassware, metalware, and Objects of Art, at Eberhardts Antique Shop and Restoration Studio.

Cost of Ceramic Repairs

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What to do and what NOT to do when something gets broken

Costs:
Estimates are free, but estimates cannot be given over the phone without seeing the piece.
Minimum repair cost is $35 per item for pieces shipped to the shop. Our work is excellent and our prices are reasonable. We are recommended by many dealers and associations. Estimates are based upon the number of breaks, missing pieces which may need to be restored, the number of colors which may need to be restored, and whether old repairs need to be removed. Factors affecting costs are reviewed below.

1. What material(s) comprise the piece and what repair materials and techniques are required.

2. How many breaks must be fixed?  Each break must often be fixed separately.  Some must be hand held or a temporary holder made until repair is finished.

3. Has a break been glued previously?  It may require considerable time and labor to undue old repairs.  These cannot be rushed.  By the way, some glues, like silicon rubber, cause great difficulty and may make re-repair impractical.

4. If touchup is required to color missing chips how many colors must be matched?

5. If matching a design pattern is required, how intricate is the design?

6. How much calling or communication with the customer is required to complete the repair?

7. Are chips missing that need to be filled and restored?

8. Are pieces missing, hands leaves, legs, etc.? Do they need to be replaced or touched up?

9. If restoration is required, how many colors must be mixed to match the paint?

10. Is there special surface texture which must be matched?  How many?

11. Other factors. Special handling? Size? Extra fragile?
 

What we do not do.

There are many things we do not do as a normal practice which we can do if it is necessary.

We do not claim to do invisible repairs.  Although the repairs are often not noticeable to the customer, an expert will often, but not always, be able to detect the repairs.

We do not fire or refire pieces in a kiln, as a normal practice.  Doing so would be an extra cost and significant risk to the piece.

We do not rebake gold rims on glassware.  That can only be done by refiring but glassware often does not survive such refiring so this is not done.

We can paint gold rims on plates and glassware if they are to be used for decorative purposes.

We do not blow glass.

We do not make or have replacements for dinnerware.  We refer customers to replacement services.  There are also other replacement services which can be found by searching the world wide web.
 

The cost of the repair is not affected by the value of a piece.  The design, market value, and construction of an expensive piece may greatly increase the repair difficulty and thus will increase the time and expertise required.  Expensive pieces may require more insurance and more difficult packing and shipping because of their design.  These do increase the cost.