The Winslow mail., 1901-01-31
USES FOR BROKEN CHINA.
Nicely Mended Makes Pretty Wall
Decoration or Shelf Orna=
inent.

Very handsome are some of the H.
braries and sitting-rooms of the old
English houses, inhabited for genera
tions by lovers of beautiful porcelains
and potteries. Many china treasures
have in the course of time accumu-
lated in old families. Old specimens
Of Delft. oriental wares and the handi-
craft of the great Josiah Wedgwood
are too beautiful to hide in the gloomy
fagtness of china closets. Instead they
are brought, out, priced heirlooms, to
decorate drawing-room shelves and
cabinets. Persons who find the mere
thought of ostentation of fortune and
social position abhorrent consider
themselves blessed above the many in
the culture and refinement indicated
by the century-old collections of val
liable china and works of art, says
the Washington Star.
Now, while many persons find it i'm
possible to possess choice collections
of real Wedgwood, Royal Worcester,
Chelsea. Sevres, Chinese or Japanese
porcelains, almost anyone may have
collection of china. 1t may be only
a specimen of graceful biscuit ware
the red, porous metal of which ordi
nary flower pots are made. Until
one begins to collect vases and jugs
of this materisi it is rare to find an
appreciation of it's novel forms, rang
ing from those resembling Greek am
phora to the simplest of jugs and
vases. Collections of gray and brown
stoneware are interesting, as also arc
those consisting of the beer mugs, so
fancifully decorated by the German
manufacturers.
These mugs make a suitable decora-
ton for the over-mantel shelf in a
dining-room or for the shelf over the
door. The variety of shapes and the
ornateness are wonderful. The mugs
may be bought in Germany for much
less than in this country, and the col
lectors frequently commission travel
ing friends to bring several from
abroad.
Old plates and old cups and saucers
of various varieties, too, afford out
let's for the enthusiasm of the china
collector.
Very handsome bits of fine china
may sometimes be bought in the shops
for a mere trifie. These are usually of
nominally damaged ware, of which
every dealer has more or less, which
he is glad to dispose of at almost any
price. With cement the broken pieces
may be mended so that, unless ex-
amined very closely, the article will
appear to be unfractured. On a frieze
shelf running around part of the room
the mended articles, even where re-
pairs have been very decided ones,
may be safely displayed.
Prepared cements may be bought at
almost any pharmacy, but in case
they prove unsatisfactory, here are
some recipes which are recommended
by collector of china:
Mix half a pint of vinegar with a
half pint of milk, and when a curd has
formed remove the whey. Add to the
whey the whites of five eggs and beat
the mixture together for ten minutes.
Into this stir some finely powdered
quicklime-enough to form a thick
paste Put the mixture into a jar
and seal it tight. China mended with
this cement, it is said, will resist the
action of water.
Silicate of liquid potassa spread over
the broken surface with brush is
also highly recommended. After the
broken edges are adjusted they should
be tied firmly in place by tape or
ribbon band passed around and
around the outside of the dish. After
being left in this position for several
days, until the cement has hardened,
the adhesion will be perfect and will
not be affected by water, fire or cold.