Featured Chinese Shiwan Kiln Pottery Bowl / Repair or Not

Just want to share this bowl that I was very lucky to have stumbled onto.

9" Chinese Shiwan kiln pottery bowl with distinctive Shiwan "light blue fish-roe" and "eel yellow" monochrome glazes with mold pressed floral motif. Made, city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, Southern China, 1890 to 1919. Marked "China", the earliest export stamp.

Utilitarian Shiwan pottery from 1890-1919 is relatively rare and significantly more challenging to collect, because potters focused on the artistic and sculptural aspects of figurines, rather than the functional aspects of utilitarian ware. The rarity of utilitarian Shiwan pottery can also be attributed to the fragility of daily-use items, and a lower perceived value at the time, leading to less careful preservation. Museums and collectors have historically focused more on the artistic or decorative aspects of Shiwan ware, overlooking and undervaluing simple, utilitarian pieces.

It has some glaze damage (lip and foot rim) that am thinking about giving a try repairing myself, something I have never done before. Have been searching and watching videos but still unsure what filler product to use. Also, can't figure out when sanding the filled area, how to keep from leaving abrasive marks on the surrounding areas of the glaze. Still on the fence if I am willing to risk a "first timer" attempt for successful repair. Not sure if the risk, even if successful would increase the value to any significant degree. Maybe just leave it as is?

 

u found it this way........ nice !! , now leave it this way !!!!!

 

Yeah, my inclination would be to practice repairs on something less.... less... old, interesting, and unusual.

 

To answer some questions...

Whenever you're going to attempt a restoration, try searching with keywords like "conservation," "archival," and "restoration" to find sites that specialize in materials for museums and archivists.

For this, Milliput is probably a start point. Specifically their superfine grade meant for pottery restoration. It's a non-shrinking two-part permanent epoxy. Here's a break down of it being used for a figure restoration and here's the detailed manufacturer advice and instructions, including how to get certain finishes and how to paint it.

This type of filler you can smooth really well with wet fingers. (I wear gloves with epoxies cause some of them are stanky!) If you need to sand just the epoxy area, then try masking the surrounding area with a low tack tape and just gently, and slowly, sand. Definitely try to remove all overages before it completely hardens (takes a few hours).

That said, I think this is best used on pieces like figures where a loss is a bit of an eyesore, or items that are more damaged. I don't think your chips warrant a fix on this adorable bowl. I love the joyful colors.

 

Gorgeous bowl, George.
I'm with the others, leave it as is. Frankly, it doesn't bother me.

Agree.

 

Another recommendation for leaving it alone, at least until you are confident and expert in such repairs (and maybe not even then). It was a utilitarian piece, as you note. It need not be perfect.

 

I seriously love this bowl. However, it is utilitarian ware and all the damage is honest damage and is part of its history. I say along with the others, leave it as is. Colour me green (envy!).

 

I'd leave it alone. It took it almost a century to look this old, and the chips look almost as old as the piece. I wouldn't touch them; they add character. A really good repair would be OK, but a mediocre one would be a disaster. You're better off with the chips.

 

Ditto-Leave it.

 

Ok, I hear everyone so will leave as is.
Really appreciate all the input and thank you Mirana for the extensive help and links.

 

No problem! The call to restore some things is strong in me too. I'm currently "replacing" bits on a vintage mirror that broke off. One part I'm replacing a flower with a skull motif...so not an exact restore... But it is fun to see if you can make something whole again. Definitely try it, but maybe in something vintage and inexpensive to start.

 

Mirana,

Recently, I have started to browse eBay looking for the perfect broken pottery piece or figure to try and repair. Would like to give kintsugi a try.

 

Good luck! A lot of people buy bowls that are (mostly) intact and then break them on purpose to try this process out, unless it's a bowl they own that broke. It's kinda hard to find a piece for sale with all it's shards. You'll have to show us how it turns out!

 

Dang! That reminds me that I bought a kintsugi kit off Amazon to repair a New Hall plate that I accidentally broke. I'd better get to it! (LOL, if it's done by the end of the year, I'll be astounded. Queen of unfinished projects! In my retirement I have vowed to finish any project I start. Didn't give myself a deadline. [Pun intended!]).

 

I found a Kintsugi-ed bowl a while ago, and gave it to a friend who's had open-heart surgery etc. I figured she IS a Kintsugi piece herself, and with what medical care costs here they should be putting in gold sutures.

 

I had to tell myself it's perfectly okay to let a project settle and come back to it later.

And also that it's not a failure to decide I'm never gonna do that project and I can move on. I used to feel so bad! Now I realize we are allowed to change our minds.

 

And it is! I have a lot of very settled projects. I'm sure they'd get a shock if I ever returned to them.

 

I have started something and then not touched it for years before coming back and doing the thing. It was really satisfying! There are no rules for doing things in your own time when you want too.

 

Agree wholeheartedly with you both. We just rid of a ton of ancient unfinished projects-freed up lots of studio/workspace and bestowed peace of mind ! That new room for the brain to roam and create is mighty liberating.

 

I have two or three quilt pieces that I'll never finish. Actually more than that, but the other three are for materials or weight reasons. Two are just fragments and may end up as pillow covers.