Restorer Makes Broken Treasures Whole Again

I have never seen a more impressive photo display of luminaries than the one gracing the walls of Brookes Restorations & Engraving Co. The gallery includes such figures as the Reagans and even Prince Charles, who visited this workroom during his 1994 visit.

The array of prominent figures suggests the quality of work done here. Frank Brookes, a Wedgwood master potter and ceramic designer from England, has brought the fine art of restoration to the area. Whether it’s chipped crystal, broken porcelain or damaged pottery, there isn’t much that Brookes and his staff of craftsmen can’t make look as good as new.

For many years, Frank’s brother, Geoffrey Brookes, worked with him in his Westside store. But Geoffrey and his wife, Elena Horowitz, decided they wanted to work closer to their home in Ventura. They are now operating Horowitz & Brookes Restoration out of locations in Agoura Hills and Ventura.

At Brookes Restoration in Los Angeles, you can figure on spending around $25 for repairing the rim of a chipped crystal goblet. At Horowitz and Brookes, where the overhead is greatly reduced, a glass will cost either $12 or $15, depending on the type of crystal and the complexity of the repair.

Frank Brooke’s major advice to anyone who has suffered damage to their breakable treasures is to “save every little piece.” A missing limb from a sculpture can be reattached, but it’s much more expensive to create a new one.

After a broken piece of porcelain has been glued on with a special adhesive, the job of painting to match begins. On the pieces I examined that had been repaired and were ready for pickup, the work was so excellent that the area of repair had to be pointed out.

So if a family heirloom gets in the middle of the holiday crush and crashes to the floor, take heart, there is help available.

Recently, Frank Brookes has begun taking fine china, silver, crystal and art objects on consignment with an excellent split for the owner. Brookes retains 35% of the price, leaving 65% for the consignor.

A beautiful 1830 Castleford teapot was an affordable $300, and a set of 10 Irish crystal sherbet glasses was only $125. A sherry set consisting of 10 crystal glasses and two small decanters in a handsome wood case would run at least $1,500 new, but the price here is $695.

* Brookes Restoration & Engraving Co., 930 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 659-8253; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

* Horowitz & Brookes Restoration, 28914 Roadside Drive, Suite B-1, Agoura Hills, (818) 990-5232; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Ventura store is at 21 S. California St., Suite 205, (805) 643-1908; noon-5 p.m. Thursdays and by appointment.