
Wipe the chalkware gently, paying special attention to recesses and detail work where dust can collect. 2. Use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled paintbrush to gently work on embedded and stubborn dirt, especially in recessed areas. Pay close attention to the chalkware surface as you clean it, to prevent damage.
Full Answer
What is chalkware?
Decorated with watercolor pigment and other media, Chalkware was largely produced in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Some of the most popular distribution channels for figural or decorative chalkware was carnivals where the figures were given away as prizes.
How can you tell the age of chalkware?
Some of the most popular distribution channels for figural or decorative chalkware was carnivals where the figures were given away as prizes. One helpful bit of information when assessing any object is to figure out how old it is. With chalkware, the surface of the piece can tell you alot about its age.
Where is Chalkware Santa Bank made?
Found at carnivals and fairs, this chalkware Santa bank was made in Germany and exported to the United States. With most pieces of Chalkware, look for completely molded pieces with no loss areas. Value is higher for those pieces that have intricate designs and strong painted decoration.
How do you remove varnish from jewelry?
Wearing a jeweler’s head-mounted visor, a conservator carefully removes each layer of varnish and then washes the area with a "retarding" solvent to remove any residual solvent and reveal the underlying image. No pigment is removed or abraded.

Is chalkware worth anything?
Value is higher for those pieces that have intricate designs and strong painted decoration. Values for Chalkware pieces from the late 19th/early 20th Centuries can range from $10 to $500 depending on form, decoration, condition, age, rarity, and other factors.
How do you clean vintage chalkware?
Do not wash your chalkware; it's made of an unglazed material and is not impervious to liquid and moisture. Instead wipe the piece occasionally with a dry, clean, soft cloth.
Is plaster the same as chalkware?
Chalkware is an American term for popular figurines either made of moulded plaster of Paris (usually) or sculpted gypsum, and painted, typically with oils or watercolors.
How do you repair a hole in a plaster statue?
1:1415:04Reassembling, Fixing, Patching, and Painting Broken Statues ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere. Any little spaces that I have I'll come back and fill in with plaster tiny a little bit ofMoreThere. Any little spaces that I have I'll come back and fill in with plaster tiny a little bit of plaster fill in the holes. Smooth it out surrender that with sandpaper. And then paint. It.
What is chalkware made of?
Chalkware is made from Plaster of Paris (and occasionally sculpted from blocks of gypsum). It is used to create figurines. Chalkware was especially popular in the 19th Century (before plastics became popular). Plaster of Paris is a mix of powdered and heat-treated gypsum.
How can you tell if a statue is chalkware?
Unlike Staffordshire porcelain pieces, most chalkware figurines were painted by hand and a few glazed. These figures have a matte finish except building fonts that had glazed windows. Modern chalkware pieces were painted with tempera, while the artists used watercolors or oil-based paints to paint old figurines.
What is the difference between chalkware and ceramic?
During the 1800s and early 1900s, decorative objects for the home rose in popularity, but many were made of ceramic and too expensive for the average individual. Chalkware was a much more affordable alternative since it was made of less expensive gypsum plaster, and was easier and faster to make than ceramic.
When was chalkware invented?
Although chalkware was first made in America as early as 1768, it has come to be associated with Italian immigrants who peddled it in American cities in the mid-19th century. When unpainted, the surface resembled chalk. The hollow figures were made in a mold of gypsum, the main ingredient in plaster of paris.
What is Carnival chalkware?
Carnival chalkware is an American term for the figurines made most often out of plaster of Paris (though some were made of gypsum) and painted bright colors using oils or watercolors that were won at carnivals and fairs of this time period.
Does Gorilla glue work on plaster?
Convenient for on-the-go repairs, it packs a powerful grip in a portable size. Great for indoor or outdoor use and made to stick to rough, uneven, unforgiving surfaces like wood, stone, stucco, plaster, brick and more.
Does Super Glue Work on plaster?
Most people automatically think they need to grab the super glue, epoxy or hot glue, but the best glue to use on plaster or ceramics is plain-old, white school glue. It seeps into the pores on the plaster and ceramics and rebuilds the bond between the broken pieces.
Can you use wood glue on plaster?
For those of you looking for the answer without the adventure, here you go! The best mix ratio of plaster of paris and wood glue was 2 parts water (and plaster) to 1 part wood glue.
How do you clean an old plaster statue?
Finished plaster objects present fewer problems as the finishes are often quite durable. In addition to the dry cleaning methods already described, these items can usually be cleaned with cotton swabs moistened with distilled water to which a little detergent has been added.
What is Carnival chalkware?
Carnival chalkware is an American term for the figurines made most often out of plaster of Paris (though some were made of gypsum) and painted bright colors using oils or watercolors that were won at carnivals and fairs of this time period.
What is chalkware made of?
Read More. Once called poor man’s porcelain, Chalkware is a collectible molded ceramic likened to plaster. Decorated with watercolor pigment and other media, Chalkware was largely produced in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
Is an appraisal subject to satisfactory completion of repairs or restoration?
If applicable, appraisals are subject to satisfactory completion of repairs or restoration and value conclusions are contingent upon completion of the improvements in a workmanlike manner. The appraiser has no interest in the item appraised and the appraiser has not made any offer to buy the item appraised.
