Hi Everyone! I’m looking for some professional advice in the field
of pewter.
I just bought a small (hand sized) art deco borzoi sculpture mounted
on a black glass tile (vitrolite). During the flight home, and
somewhere in baggage claim two legs snapped off, close to the bottom
where they are the skinniest. The two feet are still stuck in place
on the vitrolite.
I know that I can never fix it to look flawless. But its just too
beautiful of a piece to toss. If I can get it back together enough
to stand up, even though the structural integrity will be lost, and
just set it in a corner, thats good enough.
I’m trying to figure out the best way to “glue” it back together
without adding anything structurally/visually to disturb the clean
art deco lines (i.e. no “bracelets” or “grass” around the ankles!).
:>
Here are the problems:
The parts won’t match up exactly because it was “bent” then broken.
My attempt to gently straighten one leg caused leg number three to
break. I think the “pewter” is too brittle to try any further
manipulation to get the parts to line up correctly. So I’m thinking
of something analogous to wood filler but for pewter.
The legs are too skinny to drill into them and “splint” them
together with an interior support (think toothpick sized armature).
I suspect any attempts to introduce a pewter solder (for example
Rio’s Solder Fast Zinc Paste Solder, specially formulated low-melt
solder for all zinc-bearing alloys. Melts and flows at 400 degrees
F) or heat to apply it, may create further damage…i.e. I don’t
know the composition of this “pewter.” There isn’t any part that I
can “practice” on to see how it would react to both the product and
heat.
So, I’m wondering if there is any super strong and lasting cement
that can hold it together well enough so it can just stand in a safe
place on a shelf and look good?
Any suggestions?
Signed:
Heart Broken
(Iris Sandku:hler)