Chips and crazing on dishware

[loveit]

I just noticed a sliver of a chip on a great thrifting find - a Noritake black and white gravy boat. The sliver is on the outside, not the inside, and it's not on the gravy spouts. Can it still be used?

I wonder about chips and crazing, too. Do you guys use things with crazing? What about chips?

I tend to think the gravy boat is okay because the chip is on the outside, not inside.

I'm bummed because I thought it was perfect and only discovered it when I got home with it.

[Magpie18]

From what I have seen & through conversations with thrift staff -- crazing & chips does not prevent them from selling.

I have enough stuff that I won't bother using anything with crazing or chips.

On another note,  a while back-- I overheard a conversation at a thrift... I couple of gals were picking up colorful dishes etc. to break up into mosaics.

[ChrisMiss]

How disappointing for you to think it's perfect when you bought it only to discover it has a chip.  I've done that many times myself.

I think if a chip is on the outside and not any place that food is then it's okay to use.  If a chip is on the inside then food and germs can get into it and it's not sanitary any longer according to what I've read. 

[loveit]

Thanks for your reply. The chip is on the outside only, so manybe it can still be used.

[mccoysnina]

I just noticed a sliver of a chip on a great thrifting find - a Noritake black and white gravy boat. The sliver is on the outside, not the inside, and it's not on the gravy spouts. Can it still be used?

I wonder about chips and crazing, too. Do you guys use things with crazing? What about chips?

I tend to think the gravy boat is okay because the chip is on the outside, not inside.

I'm bummed because I thought it was perfect and only discovered it when I got home with it.

I have bought a few things with chips in it if I really like.  But I tend ot use them for vases and pencil holders and spare change colletors.  That way I can use them and not worry.

MY husband was upset when he broke off a big piece on his favorite beer stein, right on the rim when he drank from it, he thought he would have to pitch it and he really like the mountain scene on it.  But I pointed out that he has just asked me to get him a pencil holder for his desk and the beer stein would work just find, and no worrying about getting a cut lip.
So five years later , the ber stein still holds pencils on his desk.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

Crazing is usually not a big issue on old collectible ceramics, it is pretty common.  I would not heavily use a crazed piece of dinnerware though as I would not want to worsen the condition.

I once bought a really nice vintage Fedreral Glass Punch Bowl set that was never used in an unopened box.  The dummy who designed the box put the compartment that held the cups at the very bottom of the box with the punch bowl (a heavy one) & stand on top.  When I took the cups out of the box 11 of the 12 cups were chipped.  I ended up selling the punch bowl & stand on Ebay & at least got my investment back. 

[Mattie]

If I really like something, I'll buy it even if it's chipped.  My pink Pyrex bowl has a fleabite along the rim but I use it as a fruit bowl so it doesn't matter.  If you plan to give the dish regular use, a chip or crack could spread.  If you're just displaying it, no problem.

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I have a number of pieces of McCoy with minor issues to them. This made the prices VERY cheap. I just display them. I don't plan to resell, where they wouldn't have much value anyway. It's more an an aesthetic thing for me.

Chips really depend on what your goals for the item are.

[Other People s Junk]

I am getting more picky these days about chips, since I have so much stuff (and little storage), but it doesn't really bother me as I feel I can use the item without being scared I will break it.  (It doesn't matter as it is already chipped!)  The gravy boat sounds like it's very useable, so I say go for it!

Crazing is a slightly different matter... If it was a gravy boat that was crazed, I wouldn't use it, as the gravy could get down into the glaze.  If it's a plate that I am just going to set cookies on or something, that's not as big of a deal.

And I agree with TSR, it depends on what you are going to use it for.  If you're using it as a small storage thing, for pencils or Q-tips or what have you, then so long as you like the item it doesn't matter so much what the condition is.

Obviously I wouldn't use items that look like pieces will still chip off.

[floridarecycled]

Since the subject of crazing has came up...I just wanted to pass along this tidbit of info that someone shared with me...

You know how you see pottery or dishes that have darkened in areas due to being used after the crazing...they said to go to your local beauty supply store and get the bleach that is used to bleach color from hair...immerse item in the bleach and check after 24 hours...depending on the amount of darkness you may have to leave item up to 3 days...
rinse the item off and let it dry...she said you can also put in a low oven temp to dry it if there is still some darkness.

She said to keep it in a covered container and reuse it (the bleach is a little pricey)...I recently got a ceramic "PAW" mug that had a LOT of darkness in it (I only got it for the sentimental fact that my mom has a "Maw" and "Paw" mug from my granny and it brought back memories...but I definitely am going to test the theory.

Sorry for rambling on...just wanted to share this tip!

[valleythriftshopper]

I recently got a ceramic "PAW" mug that had a LOT of darkness in it (I only got it for the sentimental fact that my mom has a "Maw" and "Paw" mug from my granny and it brought back memories...but I definitely am going to test the theory.

Wow!  What a coincidence! I just bought a big "PAW" coffee mug this week.  I had never heard of them before, but thought it would be fun to put some coffee/biscotti in for a funny Father's Day gift.  This one has some scrathes on the front, but for 79 cents it is just for fun.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/thriftshopper/paw.jpg