San Diego · North County · Shipped pieces welcome
Art Glass Repair & Restoration
A master glass artist’s hand for blown glass, vessels, sculpture and heirloom pieces. Honest assessment, careful work, and the experience to know what’s worth saving.
Free assessment from photos · Repairs start at $100
Recent Work
Before & After
Specialty
What James Repairs
Art glass restoration of all kinds — the hot-shop and studio pieces James has spent five decades learning how to read.
Vases & Bowls
Hand-blown vases, bowls and vessels with chipped rims, cracked bases, clean breaks or surface damage.
Rim · Base · NeckBlown Glass Sculpture
Free-form sculpture and artist-blown forms — including pieces by other studio artists. Cold-work, edge repair and considered intervention.
Free-form · Artist editionsCustom Art Glass Lamp Shades
One-of-a-kind blown or custom art glass shades. Stock or mass-produced shades are usually better replaced.
Custom · BlownPaperweights & Collector Pieces
Paperweights and collected art glass with chips, scratches or cloudiness, polished back toward clarity.
Collected · SignedHeirloom Pieces
Glass that means something. Honest evaluation first — if a piece can’t be made whole, James tells you before any work begins.
Family · Gifted · InheritedArt Glass Installations
Damaged elements of art glass installations and public pieces, assessed on site or from photos.
Installations · Public artHonest Reality
What’s Possible — and What Isn’t
Glass is unforgiving. Some breaks can be brought back well; others can’t. Knowing the difference is half the work.
Often Workable
- Chipped or rough rims — cold-worked smooth, fire-polished where appropriate.
- Wobbly bases — ground level so the piece sits true.
- Clean breaks on solid forms — bonded with conservation-grade adhesives, finished cleanly.
- Surface scratches & cloudiness — hand-polished back to clarity.
- Sculptural reshaping — selective cold-work to refine line or proportion.
Usually Not
- Shattered or thermally-shocked work — once stress is in the glass, it’s rarely safe to revive.
- Hairline cracks running through thin walls — these tend to grow, not heal.
- Pieces missing significant material — matching original color and clarity is often impossible.
- Mass-produced pressed glass and stock lamp shades — usually faster and cheaper to replace.
- Window, plate, architectural, stained or leaded glass — a different trade; James works only on art glass.
The Process
From First Photo to Finished Piece
Every repair begins with photos and a conversation — not a commitment.
Photos & Story
Send a few clear photos of the whole piece and the damage, plus a short note on what happened.
Free Assessment
James reviews it and replies, usually within a few business days, with a feasibility read and a written estimate — or a candid “not worth it.”
Studio Time
Drop the piece off in Escondido or ship it from anywhere. Repair happens in James’s studio.
Return
The finished piece comes back cleaned and ready, with notes on care to help it last.
Watch James Work
See James at the Furnace
Why James
The hand that makes it often knows best how to repair it.
James Stone has worked in hot glass for more than five decades — studying with masters including Lino Tagliapietra, Pino Signoretto, Martin Janecky and Paul Stankard. He has built studios, taught at UC San Diego, and placed public art across Southern California.
That depth shapes how he approaches a damaged piece: care for what was made, honesty about what can be done, and the patience to do it right.
Glass
Installations
Books
Free Assessment
Request a Repair Estimate
Tell James about the piece and attach a few photos. He personally reviews every request and replies, usually within a few business days.
Common Questions
Before You Send It In
Have a piece worth saving?
Send a few photos and a short note. The assessment is free, and always honest.
Request a repair estimate