Sometimes after buying your Van Briggle pottery secondhand it is not as clean as you might want it to be. Luckily, it is extremely easy to get your Van Briggle art back into looking its best.
One of the most critical things to consider when cleaning your Van Briggle pottery is WHERE you are cleaning it. If your piece drops, could it break? A great tip is to always put down a dishtowel or rag in the sink when cleaning anything of great or irreplaceable value. Make sure you are also holding your pottery low and not high up. If it drops or slips by accident, the towel will break the fall and the item you are cleaning will stay intact. A pair of cotton handling gloves also gives you a better grip on wet pottery and keeps skin oils off the bisque bottom, which tends to darken over time from fingerprints.
The first thing you will want to do is place your pottery inside of another large bowl or dish and fill it with warm mildly soapy water. Go ahead and let your Van Briggle soak for a couple hours.
After your Van Briggle has soaked, take a soft toothbrush and brush the problem areas of your piece using a small circular motion. Never scrub with the green rough side of a sponge. This can ruin the finish.
When done, set your Van Briggle pottery in a spot where it can dry naturally.
That was easier than you thought, wasn’t it?
Once your piece is clean, make sure it’s safely displayed. Museum putty, gel, and wax keeps your pottery secured to shelves and prevents the kind of accidents that no amount of cleaning can fix. For pieces going into storage rather than onto a shelf, wrap them in acid-free archival tissue. Regular newspaper and colored tissue can transfer acids and dyes into the glaze crazing over years.
Proper cleaning helps preserve both the beauty and the value of your Van Briggle pieces. Once your piece is looking its best, you may want to research what you have — The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Van Briggle Art Pottery can help you identify the design, date, and glaze. If you’re still building your collection, check out our tips on where to buy Van Briggle pottery.
Reader Comments
“Wonderful suggestions! Thanks” — kathryn shaw grigsby, April 7, 2021
