Answers to some FAQ’s about VINTAGE POTTERY, TILE, & FURNISHINGS CARE
POTTERY: Enjoying and using your vintage pottery is half the fun but Bauer, Catalina and other vintage pottery is susceptible to damage, including chipping and crazing. We have used our mild setting in the Dishwasher with pieces well-separated with good results, but if in doubt, hand wash & dry. Do NOT put any vintage pieces in the microwave. Regarding lead and uranium used in glazes: do NOT store any acidic foods overnight in orange or red pottery due to possible leaching. Research tells us that everyday use is perfectly safe.
TILE: Vintage tile tables and murals should be treated with care. Do not subject them to freezing temperatures or direct sunlight or crazing, fading, and/or glaze lifting may result. Do not set heavy metallic objects on them which could scratch the surface. When using for dining or beverage service use coasters or placemats. Plastic plant saucers work well to protect tile tables from flower pot leakage or overflow which can leave stain marks. Tile murals should be doubly secured to a wall either inside or out with heavy bolts secured into beams, as well as on a wire. We sometimes use a bolted angle iron under a heavy murals to support it from the base as well. Do not carry murals by their surrounding framework or the framing could break off, twist, or become loose.
FURNITURE: When dealing with vintage furniture it’s best to leave it as original as possible. As long as it’s not “shabby” looking, painted Monterey sometimes has flakes and missing paint areas–consider it character. Monterey furniture losses its cross hatching marks when sanded, we do not recommend sanding, but careful chemical stripping if that is your only option to restore a bad finish. We sometimes use a light application on a soft cloth of pure Orange Oil for our furniture. Never use wax such as Endust which can leave an unsightly coating. Try not to subject antique furniture to extremes of heat or cold, sunlight, humidity or dryness which can cause cracking and separation of the wood and fading of the finish.
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