Intro
You handle your Jadeite dishes with care, and would be heart broken if anything happened to them, but sometimes despite your best efforts, accidents do happen, and your cherished pieces may end up broken or chipped.
Or maybe, you’ve found yourself opening a package, only to see 100-year old glass in broken pieces because a careless seller didn’t package your glass securely.
Broken Jadeite dishes are full of history and nostalgic value, so when they break, it breaks our heart a little too.
But while it’s disheartening to see your Jadeite dishes broken, there is still hope!
Read More: Why are Jadeite Dishes So Popular?
In this article, we will explore some clever DIY transformations, and creative ideas that will help bring your broken Jadeite back to life.
Current Prices for Jadeite Dishes
Jadeite Jewelry
An exciting idea (and my favorite) for utilizing broken Jadeite dishware is to make jewelry. Small pieces can be transformed into unique pendants, earrings, or bracelets.
By carefully sanding and polishing the edges, you can create smooth and wearable pieces that highlight the vibrant green color of Jadeite. The professionals on Etsy probably have all the fancy glass tools, but if you’re just starting out you can hand sand the pieces using different grits and it will work great.
These one-of-a-kind jewelry items will carry a sentimental value and serve as a reminder of the dishware’s history – especially if the broken piece was a family heirloom.
Additionally, broken pieces can be repurposed as decorative elements for brooches, hairpins, or even embellishments for handbags and clothing.
Pictured below is a necklace and earring set that we made from a broken Jadeite refrigerator dish! A piece with the Fire-King logo was salvageable, so it became the necklace pendant.
This was my first attempt at making jewelry, but if you are looking for something truly special made by an experienced glass crafter, check out these sellers on Etsy:
DinnerWearJewelry is an Etsy seller that makes beautiful earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets made out of old Jadeite dishes. Pictured is a Jadeite pendant necklace made from a broken Fire-King Jadeite Alice dinner plate!
Buy Jadeite jewelry on Etsy from DinnerWearJewelry.
Another well known seller for Jadeite jewelry is Tinker Creek Creations on Etsy.
Current Prices for Jadeite Dishes
They make beautiful Jadeite rings and earrings made from old McKee Jadeite bowls. And yes, they will glow under a black light!
Buy Jadeite jewelry from Tinker Creek creations on Etsy.
Mosaic Artwork
One of the most creative ways to repurpose broken Jadeite dishware is by making a mosaic.
Collect the broken fragments and sort them by size and shape. With some adhesive and a suitable surface like a wooden tray or picture frame, you can create stunning mosaic designs.
Arrange the pieces in intricate patterns or let your imagination run wild with abstract compositions. The result is a visually captivating piece of artwork that not only breathes new life into the broken dishware but also becomes a centerpiece of conversation and admiration.
Pinterest and YouTube have plenty of information and how-to videos to get you started.
Garden Decorations
Broken Jadeite dishware can find a new purpose in enhancing your outdoor spaces. Utilize the fragments as decorative accents in your garden or patio.
Create eye-catching mosaic stepping stones by embedding the broken pieces into wet concrete or by arranging them on the surface of a large planter.
A chipped or dishwasher damaged cup and saucer can be transformed into a delightful bird feeder.
You can also transform larger broken pieces into unique planters themselves by filling them with soil and succulents.
Upcycled Home Decor
If you’re looking to infuse your home with a touch of vintage elegance, broken Jadeite dishware can be transformed into functional and decorative items.
Chipped or cracked plates can be repurposed as wall clocks.
Utilize chipped, dishwasher damaged, and broken teacups and saucers as delicate planters for small houseplants or as holders for stationary and craft supplies. The beauty of repurposing broken Jadeite dishware is blending nostalgia with functionality, and creating conversation pieces that tell a story.
This Fire-King Ware Jadeite Shell salad plate was severely dulled by dishwasher damage, plus it’s scratched, and chipped, but it was given to me free by a seller on Facebook Marketplace. It’s in very poor condition, so it certainly isn’t valuable, but it makes for a perfect saucer for my planter. You could also use it as a candle plate.
Learn More: How to Care for Jadeite Dishes
Here’s that salad plate in action, with a Jadeite Fire-King Flower Pot as the planter. A Fire-King Jadeite bulb bowl with straight rim, and Fire-King Deco vase are in the background.
Leave The Crafting To Someone Else
If you’re not up to making anything yourself with any of your damaged Jadeite pieces, there are plenty of other crafters who will buy it from you.
Perhaps you could even negotiate with a seller to give you a deal for a piece of their jewelry or craft item in exchange for your box of broken Jadeite.
Conclusion
Be open minded about upcycling your broken Jadeite, or buying Jadeite that’s chipped, dishwasher etched or otherwise flawed, especially when you can acquire such pieces cheaply or even for free.
The art of transforming broken Jadeite glassware into new creations not only rescues these beautiful pieces from the fate of the trash can, but also provides an opportunity for personal expression and creativity.
What will you make with your broken Jadeite?
Current Prices for Jadeite Dishes
Hi. I have a jadeite refrigerator beverage dispenser. It is cracked and the dispenser part is gross. Do you think I should try to keep it intact somehow, or break it up and use the pieces?
I guess it depends how badly it is cracked! It would be a shame to further damage it. Could it be repurposed instead?