Can I fix this cracked bowl?

July 24, 2019 8:40 PM

I bought a lovely Tunisian bowl today, from a shop that I had previously bought a lovely Tunisian pitcher from. They match. It seems in the transit from Sausalito to home, a small crack has formed. This bowl was the last the shop had, and it matches the pitcher I have, and the company has apparently folded. So how can I fix this hairline crack so I can put things in this bowl like lemons or fruit? Hope me metafilter!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

I’d go for epoxy and gold leaf.
This might not be as viable for hot soups or cooking, but is fine for a fruit bowl. See here for instruction on fake DIY kintsugi.
posted by SaltySalticid at 9:07 PM on July 24, 2019 [1 favorite]

Does it go through to the other side or is it just a crack in the glaze? Regardless, you can still use it for lemons and fruit and stuff. (My favourite casserole dish has a huge crack but it holds without remediation, and I've continued to bake with it, serve from it and put it into the dishwasher for about 3 years now!
posted by DarlingBri at 9:09 PM on July 24, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I just checked and it does go through to the other side.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:12 PM on July 24, 2019

Food-safe kintsugi [video link]
posted by aramaic at 9:18 PM on July 24, 2019 [3 favorites]

If you aren't opposed to dairy, you could try soaking it in hot milk which will sometimes work to seal small cracks in ceramics (from the casein protein soaking in and swelling up).
posted by Poogle at 1:20 AM on July 25, 2019 [3 favorites]

I'd use cyanoacrylate (super glue) to draw a thin line along the crack, on the inside of the bowl. Use the thin stuff so it soaks into the crack, it will help the bowl stay in one piece. Use it for non-liquid things like fruit and don't (hand)wash it more often than you need to.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:40 AM on July 25, 2019

I would use food-safe epoxy like artresin OR use Sugru - I would not use cyanoacrylate - it doesn't have the tensile strength to help hold something together and is definitely not food or liquid-safe like the other options.
posted by leslies at 5:37 AM on July 25, 2019

You could smooth some matching or transparent polymer clay over the crack, then bake it at a low temp to set it. Polymer clay is non-toxic (although manufacturers recommend against contact with food items, if you just want to use it as a fruit bowl I think you'd be fine).
posted by acridrabbit at 11:26 AM on July 25, 2019

If it's just a fruit bowl on the counter or table, I wouldn't even bother fixing it.
posted by wellifyouinsist at 11:29 AM on July 25, 2019 [2 favorites]