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A Sad Vase will hopefully live again. A John Hess Vase...

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Artistinside's items10 of 26Tall Yellow Eames Era Vase, am I close? Cookie Jar-Maybe, but who dunit, Need Help with Mark
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    Posted 10 years ago

    Artistinside
    (26 items)

    Well I was walking through my favorite GW, and saw the first half sitting by itself on a shelf, then I spotted the other half, in disbelief. Well this is what I need help with, how do you glue a stoneware pottery vase successfully. You can see it broke almost perfectly clean. So when together it is almost undetectable. I am including a link the the artist page, for reference. I forgot to add, it is 13" tall, and 3 1/2" wide.
    For Reference:
    http://planktonpottery.com/ArtistBio.html

    Does anyone have advice for gluing this interesting piece back to life.

    Most thankfully, Kirk

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    Comments

    1. Hunter Hunter, 10 years ago
      Well, if you're not worried about keeping it original and want to add a little sparkle, the Japanese technique of "kintsugi" is a lovely way to go: http://ifixit.org/blog/1577/kintsugi-better-than-new/
    2. Artistinside Artistinside, 10 years ago
      Hunter, that is really slick. I will definitely keep that process in mind. At this point, I am waiting to see what is in the best interest of the piece.
      Many thanks, Kirk
    3. Hunter Hunter, 10 years ago
      Sounds great! I've been waiting for the right piece to try it out on as well. :)
    4. AnneLanders AnneLanders, 10 years ago
      Kirk, the main reason why stoneware breaks on impact at points like this is due the the drying out of the clay over time. Was this originally a join from it's production day as it's looks too smooth a break to be otherwise? And the stoneware composition, do you know what it's mix is roughly, maybe get this researched if you're serious about a proper repair. Fortunately in my collection case the mix is well documented. Yours is deceiving too as it looks like very much more stone than clay or "cement" mix,mainly due to it's dark colour. Mine is a lot lighter composition.

      Please read my experience but it's obviously your decision is based on what you feel is right.

      DIY versus professional repair
      If you decide to repair yourself are there any traditional glues from when it was made available or you can buy something made from today's world that matches?
      I think about stoneware in this way. Over time the stoneware clay dries out . Most older stoneware you will see from the the old days crumbles and looks like cement rubble. If you create a new strong point and it falls again and can't naturally break at the join you run the risk of the whole thing smashing.

      I have a stoneware vases made by Doulton in and around 1870-1930. In one they applied the vase rim with glue. But over time the glue dried out. When the cat ran past and knocked it over it fell to the ground. But because the rim connection was weak it took the impact and the only damage was the rim fell off thank goodness. As yet I've not repaired it as it has to go visit my specialist two hours away. When he repairs it, it will have quite a weak glue to allow it to break at this point if it should fall again on to the carpet.

      This is a long winded way of asking is this point made at its birth or was it done by the impact of the smash?

      If not a join then you still need to take in what I say in repair because as you're still going to create a strong point that you may not want if you use too strong a glue. Also you need to consider if it's not a join break, how heavy are both pieces going to be now in relation to each other and could this cause a new fall of it's own.

      Another key area be careful of the is glue you choose.I'm not a Hess expert so have no idea of its age but just be careful that the new glue doesn't do damage to the stoneware itself. Like I say it's very porous from drying over the years. You've now got a weak spot too if it's not a connection point so future deterioration of the inner lining needs to be considered and how the air point should be treated.

      I liken it to my car. With my 7 or 8 airbags if I crash, the engine drops down rather than crashes in to me. So the impact is less.

      If anyone else thinks differently then I'm sorry if I've given bad advise but it's critical to get repairs done with the right glue and to think of future damage prevention. This is how I have treated my Stoneware of a average of 140 years of age and they are all still alive and kicking if any repairs have been required.
    5. Artistinside Artistinside, 10 years ago
      Ann,
      I am at a loss for words, and that's not me, or as I see, you either. :-)
      Let me begin by saying I found this vase in two pieces and bought it that way.
      I assume that someone dropped it and it broke. Even thought it looks jagged, it is a clean break, with almost no glaze missing when put together.
      The bottom piece is 5" tall, and the top piece is 8" tall.
      I guess the value of the piece will determine how far I go.
      I can't say it is my favorite type of pottery, but it is an interesting design/shape, color and texture.
      Not sure about the artist, his work seems to be obscure, not a lot on the net.
      Hopefully others will have some additional advice and then I can make my final decision.
      Thank you so much for your insightful advice, Regards, Kirk
    6. Artistinside Artistinside, 10 years ago
      Phil,
      Thanks for the info, I will digest this, and move forward when I get the nerve to try one of these methods. I have still not determined if the vase is valuable enough to work so hard at it, if you know what I mean. Anyway, thanks again, Kirk

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