How can I restore an old porcelain figurine that recently had several pieces break off?
Q. I have an old but not wildly valuable porcelain figurine that recently met with an accident; several small pieces broke off, but I seem to have recovered all of them. Now what? A. The damage done to your figurine is probably fixable-just resist the urge to try to glue the pieces back together yourself. A clumsy repair job makes it more difficult for a restoration professional to recreate the figurine for you. After a ceramic piece shatters, the best thing you can do is collect all the pieces you can find, including the tiniest fragments and dust particles, says Paul Shanks, who owns Recherché (3346 Main St., Skokie, 847-673-7172). Even the smallest pieces may be vital to making its restoration complete. Pick the pieces up by hand, wrap them in tissue, and store them in a box or plastic container. Try not to touch the broken edges and don’t attempt to put the pieces of the puzzle back together. Any extra touching that adds dirt and pressure to the fragments may compromise the final l
