Shattered - Piecing Together Broken Pottery 

Love that the client vacuumed up and provided all the dust and small particles. Now that's optimism!!

Having worked on archaeological sites, I can say that nothing compares to the satisfaction when two pottery shards come together in that incontrovertible perfect fit...!

I am fairly certain that I would happily sit and listen to Julian reading the ingredients off the packets in my food cupboard.

every time you go in with the colour, I'm like.. "oh, that's waaAAaay off!!" 2 minutes later.. "WHAT SORCERY IS THIS!?!?!" every. single. time. 😝

"This is a technique that is used by..... *long pause* *mouse click* paleontologists and archeologists..." THE WAY I CACKLED @ 9:30 AT THE SILENCE THEN JUST A MOUSE CLICK I-

My fingers are covered with dry glue today after gluing together 4 dinosaur bones as a volunteer at the Natural History museum. Fun watching your gluing adventure

This vase was created by the Italian ceramicist Aldo Londi (1911-2003), renowned for his mid-century designs. These pieces can fetch up to $10,000 at auction.

as an archaeologist, i love seeing an art conservator’s approach to vesselization. it is my favorite activity in the lab. I am extremely jealous, however, that there is a 100% complete piece at the end. if only it was like this with excavated assemblages!

I should send you one of my broken pots that I can't bring myself to throw away!

I'm watching this, envisioning what made that beautiful bowl swan-dive from the top of that bookcase, and the following came to mind: "If the world were actually flat, cats would have pushed everything over the edge by now."

As a ceramicist I really hope one day someone loves my work enough to send it in for restoration.

I had a good family friend growing up who attempted to be a pottery and ceramic artist when he was young, but fell into restoration. He ended up making a career of it. He worked on national treasures, artist masterpieces, and archeologically important pieces. He was the kind of guy who you went to after others said it was impossible. One of my favorite experiences as a child was going to his studio, low lit, with his workbench lit with his work lights, and on his black velvet lined work bench as a set of fine china. Pieces large as a plate, down to a pin head. All kind up by size, and color. All in various states. Turns out it was one of the founding father's China that had been destroyed during the war of 1812, that had been hidden and buried along with other items. Then forgotten to be buried and crushed. I saw his work in the Smithsonian National History Museum after he had died many years later. It was the same piece. I mentioned to one of the docents that I knew who had restored it when he asked me to back away. And that he was a close family friend. He went and grabbed one of the staff to introduce me. They were so gracious, asked me questions, and to detailed notes. He said, pottery restoration is a mix of artistry, chemistry, and engineering... And all insanity. On non -historical pieces you could do what you did here. Go down to the smallest pieces that made sense. But on historically or archaeologically important pieces, you had to attempt to account for everything.

I think one of the attractive features of this channel is being able to watch Julian in the battle against entropy. Every time he puts something right that was wrong. Like a police sitcom where they always get their guy, you know that at the end of the video there is always a satisfying outcome.

What elevates this man's craft from workmanship to genius is his color matching skills. What he is able to achieve borders on sorcery.

I wish I could've seen the owners faces when they got their vase back. They must've been over the moon to see it restored!

One of my favorite youtube videos was a series where a museum fixes a glass vase (including casting missing pieces). It's fascinating to see broken things put back together!

This is exactly what I wanted to see! I’ve always thought pottery was a goner after it smashed but this’ll be a real treat

If the owner ever sees this, I recommend museum gel to help keep it steady on the shelf

This is how I feel when I'm down in my little workshop closet, wearing readers, CA glue in hand, putting my 6 year old's toy back together or reassembling the ceramic magnet that was launched from the fridge door. I mean, it's exactly the same, just like when I yell at a quarterback for not throwing a pass that I would've (in Madden). Great work as always.

Thanks for letting everyone watch you work. It must be especially gratifying for the clients to see how you do your restorations and repairs on their beloved pieces.

I’m an archaeologist, or was until I retired, and watching this makes my fingers itch. I always got a great deal of pleasure out of taking the broken fragments of an artifact and making it whole again.

I watched a video that was similar to this. It was a gentleman in Japan who restores priceless Japanese porcelain. His process is amazing. When he is finished, you cannot tell any repair work was ever done.

Hi. I have a degree in archaeological sciences. Now I have a job in a totally different field, but this video made me cry with nostalgia. Finding small pieces of pottery and putting them back togheter was so beautiful and satisfying. Thank you for showing us this restoration.

I was impressed with using the thinned adhesive to seal the porous surface before using the full strength adhesive. One very small point, epoxy putty cures, it doesn't dry.

Watching him turn shattered pottery into a beautiful 3D piece was truly mesmerizing. Julian's talent knows no bounds, and I can't wait to see what he restores next!

And that's why Julian Baumgartner's channel is one of my favorites. Beautiful piece of restoration. ✨

Glad you got it fixed before Mom and Dad got home! 😅 Beautiful work as always.

I am stunned! I am hypercritical about matching areas in repairs and I have never (72 years old) in my life seen anything comparable to your work. Thank You for sharing this piece of work on RU-vid for us all to see and learn from. I am grateful for your time and expertise and calm patience. Thank You ! I am delighted to have found this video.

Not only are your talents and knowledge amazing, I love your choices of music. Add in listening to your voice, and I completely forget it's Monday and there's a real world. ☺

I’ve been watching your channel for years and years now and I’m still impressed at how you can color match so effortlessly. Amazing.

A friend of mine is an installer at the Cleveland Museum Of Art. One day he and the curator of Ancient Egypt were moving a faience piece when the curator dropped it and it smashed into a million pieces. My friend thought for sure that the curator would blame it on him, but fortunately the curator was decent enough to admit that he did it. The piece was restored and back on view in a few months or so.

I watched you for years and incorporated your lessons into my work. But I always felt good when reassembling damaged sculpture because it was all mine. And you go and do this. Now I am forced to begin work on my hot rod. I think I can be safe and content once again. Ha! Larry in Arizona

I used to do this for hours at an archaeology research lab I worked on in uni. I would sit and try and piece together hundreds of little fragments like one big, terrible puzzle. It was so fun!!! Lovely work

7:48 Ah PARALOID, it's the reversible miracle glue. Perfect! I use it for many things and also for preserving fossils.

I don’t know which element of this I prefer - the consummate work completed, Julian’s gentle tones in explaining what he’s doing, or the beautiful background music. The combination is mesmerising ❤

I knew I recognized Milliput! Funny how versatile that stuff is.

If there's ever been a Baumgartner metaphor video of my life, this is the one

I found it poetic that you started with the artist's signature. It gave me the impression of an invocation.

Julian, I had to pause the video upon seeing your floral shirt. It is absolutely stunning and I hope to see more bold prints! (Also, I think it would be cool if you matched your outfits to the paintings sometime!)

Julian, your skills and modesty continue to amaze me. You have an incredible talent for resurrecting art and making it pride of place again for those art owners. I wish more people had your work ethic. I really can't think of a better way to start my Monday morning than with a cup of Earl Grey and one of your videos.

i loved the other sculpture episode a few years ago and I'm excited for this one ❤

It's fun how you mimic the paint, cause in pottery there are complex mixes of glazes, paints, baking times and stuff to make those patterns, but you sharp eye and capable hands make all this illusion in flat!! I love it

Julian: I was delighted to see you work on this piece of pottery. I wasn’t to sure you did this sort of work too. Simply outstanding! You bring to this type of work the same skill and genius, that you bring to your restoration of paintings. Magnificent! Carol from California

I can't begin to describe how impressive this is as a mechanic sometimes it seems like we get cars that are in similar condition engines that are destroyed and we don't get the opportunity to reuse the original parts we have to replace the original with something new much like you do here. But we live in such a throwaway world it sure is cathartic to get to see something like this put back together thank you

Julian your skill never fails to amaze me. I really enjoy watching people who enjoy what they do and are ready to take on challenging projects, because they help sharpen those skills. And generally will be the projects that end up teaching you something new. Thank you for bringing us along on the work you do. I absolutely love it.

Such artistry. Your process of repainting the defects almost makes my heart ache.

Beautifully restored and repaired. Incredibly proud that you attempted this piece. I’m a sculptor and have had to repair my own work, it’s easier for me as I have the exact materials that went into my piece and to repair my own work. ❤

17:54 "You know, it's MY job. I chose to do this so complaining is NOT in the cards." - what a very mature and adult statement.

I love your channel...!!! Your work and words affirm the battles I am often faced with in historic furniture and architecture restoration where "experts" (???) in restorationists tell clients it is fine to, "strip off all the finish"...or..."PERMENTATLY" glue vintage objects back together with none archival epoxies and other nonreversible industrial adhesives, completely ignoring reversibility and the "like for like of means, methods and materials ethos" that is supposed to be the foundation of our work. Then I have to re-educate the client on the facts of what real and actual restoration looks like… Wonderful channel and your sharing the methods and thoughts in the process is extremely appreciated…!!!

A beautiful, thoughtful, masterful job. I’m always impressed by how sharp your retouching eye is, especially on pieces with such complex colors. I wouldn’t have noticed just how gorgeous a piece this was if I hadn’t watched you retouch it up close.

As someone who has - admittedly with much less suitable equipment - attempted similar projects and failed spectacularly, I found this one astonishingly impressive.

Wow, as a crafter, puzzler, photo fixer and general pedantic Pat, this restoration is so appealing and satisfying. Well done Julian. You make my day when you tackle the unusual.

“And now for something different!” Bravo Julian, bravo 👏 you amaze at every turn !

Julian, you never fail to amaze me with your talents. Thank you for sharing them with the internet. I cannot imagine the time and energy that you must take with the camera(s) placement(s), ON TOP OF the work you already do.

If Julians hands are not insured, they should be. The way he brings back to life beauty in art is truly a gift. His hands should be protected at all cost.

I am totally impressed.... you are definitely a Master at anything and everything you touch! God's gift to you! Well done, young man!

Was intrigued to watch the matching of paint to glaze...takes a couple of tries for sure since it is not an easy thing to do as many a professional potter would warn you. So well done sir!

The technique of putting together a support from stiff paper is really nice to know - I bet that'll be useful to everyday people who break stuff and want to reassemble it at home!

I like repairing art just for nonsensical fun (I know I don't have the supplies or understanding to do a pro job), but every time I watch this channel I joke, "If only it occurred to me earlier this was a job option."

Truly a master of entropy reversal.

I’m glad the owner didn’t just throw out the pieces, this turned out amazing!!! ❤️❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

As a therapist who works with people in pain, I find myself relating to your diligent care for each piece, its history, and the desires of its owner. You know how good you are at what you do and sometimes have different desires because you can envision possibilities that they can not. I admire how you balance all of that in pursuit of delivering the best result that you can, and you think in terms of what might be in the distant future, trying to prevent avoidable problems that might be faced by the owners and/or other conservators. You know that there is always room for learning, growth, and the possibility for error. Your videos are relaxing, inspiring, and I am learning a lot. I hope to be as good at my work as you are at yours.

When I watch you doing retouching, I can see the area you did, then I glance away for a moment and look back, and it disappears! 😊👍

This was a real treat to show us your work in a different medium that may be out of your comfort zone. What a journey from seeing the abysmal shattered and numerous pieces to how you took us through your problem solving thought process for an unbelievably polished piece of art in rhe end. Awesome episode!

Where were you when Humpty Dumpty needed you most?

I’m impressed with not just the depth of you knowledge and skill, but also the breadth.

As a person obsessed with your channel, and an AVID Italian MCM pottery collector: THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT CONTENT EVER.

👏👏These types of projects are always the most inspiring for me to watch as the audience gets to see you problem solve something out of your "comfort zone", but well within your capabilities as an artist.

These restorations are most interesting to watch. The only element missing for me is information about the piece - its history, artistic importance, the artist who executed the piece, etc.

Julian, this has to be one of your best (conservation) videos. It is so different from the rest and doesn't have your familiar tropes. The fact that this piece of art required different yet similar actions really made me keep watching since it was all new. Thank you and keep being awesome.

This was outstanding. I am an art pottery collector and this was truly enjoyable to watch. New subscriber!

Aw yeah. You’re top two, and not number two when it comes to restoring things. You ate this one up 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. And im still in awe of you making your own glue AND putting it in its own tubes. Its the little things 🤌🏾.

Beautiful musical selection for the retouching - thank you!!

Your audio is impeccable. Thank you

This video is earth-shattering!

Wow! This was mesmerizing. You are incredibly talented. I always tell my children to pay attention to detail. It is what makes the difference between a professional and a worker.

Terrific video. I learned so much and understand why these restorations cost what they cost. I have an art tea pot that's been broken twice. First by someone who insisted on moving it to a safer spot, without asking. Within two hours.... Insurance claim and then repaired. It looked the same as unbroken but of course the value is much lower. I got it because I love it, I still love it. (Always always ask to keep the remnants. I know of someone who worked for an insurance company who was given a burnt painting that restored has a link to Caravaggio. The insured let it go, the company got tired of it taking up space.) The second time my art pot was broken was twenty years later by someone completely irresponsible who yanked on it because it was earthquake waxed. They didn't need to move it, or touch it; they shouldn't have been anywhere near it, or even in my house. The original restorer is retired... so I think I'll do this one. It'll be a lot easier than the one in the video. And I've got some skills in this area, not like Baumgartner of course. This was magic. I once dinged a piece of painted furniture in an AirBnB, it was so much fun to get acrylic paint, mix it to match and make the repair.

always so cool to watch the repairs blend away under retouching

As a hobby potter, I never clicked on one of your videos as quickly as I did now 👀

Your color matching never fails to impress me.

I watched the whole thing before commenting and I’m glad I did. My curiosity paid off, excellent job Julian!

Extraordinary. Watching the retouching process was straight up magical. Thank you!

Ok the glue making is pretty cool. 🤗

"Them's the breaks." Julian is drolly hysterical!

Have not watched yet, looking forward to the hot table moment to see how that works out :P

I love it when he leaves in the editing mistakes and bloopers

Damn fine job!

What a beautiful piece! What a beautiful job you have done!

That is a beautiful pot

Omg I watched this during my lunch break and nearly fell asleep I was sooooo relaxed 😅 usually I don't watch non-painting videos but this one was reeeeally good and interesting!!

I love Kintsugi. It would be very interesting to have customer reactions to your work.

Beautiful job - it came together so well you can't even tell it was damaged. I'm hoping you gave that securing advise to the clients - some Blu-Tack on its bottom to anchor it in at least!

That was refreshing ❤

Julian is our GOD of Restoration in Fine Art! Bow down to him!

Now this is awesome!

the original glaze on that is beautiful. great job with the restoration.

Great video but what about the context of the piece? Was it made by someone famous, or was it really old? Made by a relative crazy aunt? Why was it important to restore?

You make your job much more interesting than it really is and your skills are unveliebable. Amazing work!

Where were you when (as a little kid) I Broke my Mothers Hummel's!? .. 😉

My brain always loves the retouching, watching the abnormalities fade away (hits me square in the ASMR) and makes me so sleepy. And the lovely music helps as well!