Care Guide

The pieces in our collection were made to endure. With the right care, they will continue to do so — remaining beautiful and functional for generations to come. Below you will find guidance for each material type we carry.

Caring for Antique Silver

Silver is a living material. It develops patina naturally over time, and that patina is part of its character. The goal of care is not to make silver look brand new, but to keep it clean, polished to your preference, and free from damage.

Cleaning

• Always hand wash silver in warm (not hot) water with a small amount of mild dish soap.
• Use a soft cloth or sponge — never abrasive pads or steel wool.
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue, which can cause tarnishing if left on the surface.
• Dry immediately and completely with a soft lint-free cloth. Never leave silver to air dry, as water spots can form and moisture accelerates tarnish.

Tip: Never place silver in the dishwasher. The heat, harsh detergents, and prolonged moisture will damage the finish and can cause irreversible pitting or warping.

Polishing

• Use a quality silver polish cream or paste and apply with a soft cloth in gentle, straight strokes — not circular motions, which can create fine scratches.
• A silver polishing cloth is ideal for light maintenance between deeper cleans.
• Polish only as needed. Over-polishing removes the fine layer of silver over time, particularly on silverplate.

Tip: For intricate pieces with engraving or embossed detail, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to work polish into crevices, then wipe clean with a cloth.

Storage

• Store silver wrapped in acid-free tissue or in an anti-tarnish cloth bag. Avoid rubber bands, which contain sulfur and accelerate tarnishing.
• Keep silver away from humid environments and direct sunlight.
• Store pieces individually to prevent scratching.

Tip: A small piece of chalk or an anti-tarnish strip placed in your storage drawer or cabinet will help absorb moisture and slow tarnishing.

Caring for Wedgwood Jasperware

Wedgwood Jasperware is a distinctive unglazed stoneware, most recognisable in its classic blue and white form. Because it is unglazed, it is more porous than standard porcelain and requires particular care.

Cleaning

• Hand wash only, using cool or lukewarm water and a very small amount of mild soap.
• Use a soft cloth or a very soft brush. Avoid anything abrasive.
• Rinse gently and dry immediately with a soft cloth.
• Never submerge Jasperware for extended periods — prolonged soaking can cause the piece to absorb water and may affect the applied white relief decoration.

Tip: Never place Jasperware in the dishwasher. The unglazed surface is highly susceptible to damage from heat and detergent, and the relief decoration can lift or crack.

Handling

• Handle Jasperware with clean, dry hands. Natural oils from skin can leave marks on the matte surface over time.
• When displaying, avoid placing pieces where they will be handled frequently without care.

Tip: If your Jasperware has developed surface marks or light soiling, a very soft toothbrush with cool water can gently lift dirt from the textured relief without damaging it.

Storage & Display

• Store away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading of the coloured body over time.
• Wrap in acid-free tissue if storing, and avoid stacking pieces directly on top of one another.

Caring for Vintage Porcelain

Vintage porcelain — whether fine bone china, hard-paste European porcelain, or decorated transferware — is durable when treated with respect. The primary concerns are thermal shock, abrasion, and the preservation of gilding and hand-painted decoration.

Cleaning

• Hand wash all vintage porcelain in warm water with a gentle dish soap.
• Use a soft cloth or sponge. Never use abrasive scrubbers.
• Rinse well and dry immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Never place vintage porcelain in the dishwasher. The heat and detergent will dull glazes, fade decoration, and erode gilded edges over time.

Tip: Avoid sudden changes in temperature. Do not pour boiling liquid into a cold piece, or place a warm piece directly into cold water. Thermal shock can cause fine crazing or cracking.

Gilding & Decoration

• Gold and platinum gilding on vintage porcelain is delicate. Avoid scrubbing gilded edges or rims.
• Do not use lemon-based soaps or anything acidic near gilded surfaces, as acid can dull or lift the gilding.
• Hand-painted decoration should be treated with the same care — gentle washing only.

Tip: If a piece has significant gilding, wash it separately and handle the gilded areas as little as possible during cleaning.

Use at the Table

• Vintage porcelain is made for use — and we encourage it. Using these pieces is part of what keeps them meaningful.
• Avoid cutting directly on porcelain surfaces, as knives will scratch the glaze.
• Use felt or cloth separators when stacking plates to prevent scratching.

Tip: Crazing — the fine network of lines sometimes visible in older glazes — is a natural characteristic of age, not damage. It does not affect the integrity or usability of the piece.

If you have questions about caring for a specific piece you have purchased from Relikta, we are always happy to advise. Please reach out via our Contact page.