Flower Vase Repairs
Sterling silver Flower vases come in all sizes
Sterling silver flower vases are all constructed in a similar way. They usually have a weighted base filled with pitch, and a delicate vase shape. They most often break at the juncture of the base to the fluted vase. For the repair, I will add a sterling silver wire to conceal and strengthen the repair. I can also remove dents in the fluted vase. Please send photos including the height and the hallmarks on the bottom.
Sterling Silver Bud Vase Repair
Sterling silver bud vase
This sterling silver bud vase was dented and very badly tarnished. After removing the dents and polishing it looks amazing. Fortunately, the base was in perfect condition because dents can not be easily removed from a base that is marked "cement filled" or "cement reinforced." These terms are a euphemism for the fact that the base is filled with pitch, a tar-like material.
The sterling silver for 20th century silver like this is as thin as a piece of paper. Polish very gently with make-up pads and silver polish. Do not twist while polishing.
Sterling Silver Trumpet Vase Repair
Sterling silver 20th Century Trumpet Vases are very delicate
The weight of water and flowers put a lot of stress on the narrow juncture between the upper vase, and the base. Treat these tumpet vases very carefully. Do not twist when polishing. If they break, do not glue.
Trumpet vase (above left) had dents removed and then polished.
Trumped vase (above right) was repaired with a replacement base. See below for an explanation.
This Sterling silver trumpet base (shown above) arrived with the base on the left. The original base (photo left) was badly damaged, and covered in sloppy super glue. Do not use glue on silver. It will not hold More glue will not help. Glue creates more difficulty for repairs.
Since the original base was so badly dented and damaged, I offered two candlestick bases as a replacement option. I cut apart the 20th century candlestick and used the base on the right as a replacement base. It turned out very well.
STERLING SILVER Trumpet VASE
This 20th century sterling silver trumpet shaped flower vase arrived in two pieces. The trumpet vase was also badly damaged, crushed, and wrinkled. The before photo (left) doesn't even begin to capture how badly wrinkled and dented it was when it arrived. This flower vase originally belonged to the customer's mother and she wanted it fixed so that she could enjoy the memories.
The objective was not to make this silver vase look like new. That isn't possible, but with several hours of careful repair, I was able to reshape the vase and fluted top. This vase is completely transformed and looks better than I even hoped was possible. After reshaping the vase it was reattached to the base. It is wonderful to continue using an object with sentimental meaning.
Sterling Silver Flower Basket
Sterling Silver Flower Basket
This sterling silver flower basket had an elaborate pierced design that had to be polished with small wheels very carefully. The difficulty was that it had been stored in a furnace room for years and some kind of furnace soot residue had eaten a texture into the surface. The base was also bent (photo right.)
Always store your silver in a silvercloth bag in a clean dry location in a box to protect the surface and structure.
Silverplate Fan Shaped Flower Vase
SILVER PLATE FAN FLOWER VASE
This silver plate pierced and engraved fan shaped flower vase was broken from the base. Someone had also tried to repair it with glue which does not work. No matter what the glue package promises, glue will not be strong enough to repair sterling silver or silverplate.
The epoxy glue was removed very carefully and the vase soldered back together in the same way it was made over 100 years ago. The repair does not even show and the silver plating was not damaged.
Silverplate Flower Base
Silver Plate Flower Vase
Normally, I would not recommend repairing silverplate flower vase unless it has sentimental value. Late 20th century,/21st century silverplate is not well made. Do not buy any new silverplate. It is total junk. Buy an older piece of sterling silver at an estate sale, auction, or on e-bay.
To repair this silverplate vase, I added ring of sterling silver around the break to reinforce the repair. Adding the sterling silver wire makes for a stronger, more attractive repair. All done without damaging the silver plating.