To repair a piece of china that has been cracked through and through, use “cement to be fired,” mixed with water, until nearly liquid. Apply it to the crack repeatedly, so as to let the china absorb as much of it as possible; then wipe away all the surplus, and fire. This cement contains quite a good deal of flux, and will affect any color covered with it. It will always prove satisfactory when applied nowhere except just inside of the cracks.
If the article to be repaired is broken into many pieces, tie them together with asbestos cord before applying the cement to be fired, and fire with the asbestos. Asbestos will not leave a mark on hard china, and only a slight one on Belleek ware; but even this can be prevented by firing very lightly, and the cement will be quite as effective.
It must be remembered that this cement has no body and will do nothing toward filling in a space; it melts completely and holds the pieces together. If the crack is wide, apply the cement first, as explained before; let it dry, and then fill in the crack with enamel mixed with either oil or water.
To imitate the color of the decoration through which the crack comes, add a bit of the desired color to the enamel, being careful to remember that tinted enamels are rather darker after firing than before.
Fill in a nick with enamel mixed with one-tenth of flux. After this is fired, it may be covered with paste and gold, and the fault will be completely obliterated.
By mixing one part of flux to nine parts of very finely grated china, a good filling will be produced for large cracks, or for places from which small pieces of china are missing. It must be very carefully applied, and dried before firing.
Paste and gold work will cover up cracks very nicely.
Unless the china is actually apart, the cement need be applied to only one side.
For a cracked vase, apply the cement by letting it run along the inside of it only, but on a platter, apply it on the outside, or, if desired, on both sides.
Black spots and pin holes can be filled in with enamel.