It’s never a good feeling when a favorite piece of crystal gets a scratch, chip, or crack – but don’t throw it away! Mary Lou Gates has perfected the art of crystal repair and can remove chips so well that it’s virtually impossible to detect any repairs.
Glass can’t be added to or re-fired, so Mary Lou’s process removes chips by grinding and buffing. She also re-bevels and highly polishes items before returning them to their owners. Through this meticulous process she and her husband Bob are able to repair crystal goblets, vases, figurines, bowls, pitchers – including the reshaping of spouts – and more. In addition, bases and stems can be reattached or broken goblets can be turned into one-of-a kind bells by removing the bases and adding a crystal bead for sound.
Mary Lou can also repair china, such as bowls, plates, tea cups and vases as well as collectible figurines like Hummels, Lladros, Swarovski crystal and most porcelain items.
Mary Lou and Bob Gates have been repairing crystal and fine china for over thirty years. Some of their work is currently in the National Museum of Archives, Washington, D.C. from President Carter’s Administration and in the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. You may have seen them on Channel 2 News or heard them on various radio shows, and you can frequently find the couple busy at work in the Crystal Room at The Little Traveler in Geneva, IL, where customers are invited to bring in their damaged crystal & china pieces to be repaired.
Check our Events Calendar or current Almanack to see when Mary Lou’s Crystal and China Repair will be on-site at The Little Traveler. Mary Lou gives free estimates, and most repairs can be done while you shop. If you can’t make it in on one of the scheduled dates, our store is also proud to be a drop off location for Mary Lou’s Crystal and China Repair. Mary Lou will pick them up, repair them, and call you when they’re ready.
