If you’ve ever been lucky enough to attend a traditional Greek wedding or celebration, you may have seen plate-smashing firsthand.
The ritual, originally done to ward off evil spirits through the din created by shattering crockery, has become more symbolic, seen as a way to express joy and signal new beginnings.
It’s a nice, if costly, sentiment, but for most of us, smashed plates are a cause of ire rather than jubilation. We’ve all done it: lost grip of a mug or been a little too avant-garde in stacking the dishrack. Sometimes pets or small children behaving boisterously around precious things can be the culprits. Accidents happen, and while most kitchenware can be replaced, it’s the pricey and priceless trinkets that we’ll sulk over when smashed.
The cost of living crisis means that many are returning to the make-do-and-mend mentality that our grandparents had in wartime. From patching up holes to upcycling old furniture, we’re not as quick to bin imperfect items as we once were - and that goes for ceramics and crockery too.
Of course, the Japanese have been lightyears ahead here. They’ve even turned the practical act of repairing broken items into an art form called kintsugi, glueing broken shards back together before dusting them with gold powder to highlight the fracture (done with silver, it’s called Gintsugi). The rather wonderful philosophy reminds folks to find beauty in flaws, and the new, reassembled object has a story to tell, upping its value - both sentimental and monetary.
While we don’t recommend destroying family heirlooms, antiques or wedding china solely to practice kintsugi, there’s no harm in keeping a tube of ceramic glue in a drawer as an insurance policy. Check under furniture to ensure you have all the pieces, apply glue in thin layers and hold pieces together until it cures. If excess glue squeezes out, wait until it’s dry and get the rest off with a safety razor, low-grit sandpaper or a damp cloth.
We’ve rounded up the best adhesives that will work on ceramics, porcelain and more below.
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Sugru by tesa - Mouldable Multi-Purpose Glue for Creative Fixing and Making, Black & White, 8-Pack
If you’ve found yourself stuck to superglue in the past and would like to avoid another mishap (and embarrassing trip to medical services), Sugru could be the option you never knew you needed. This ‘glue’ arrives in non-toxic putty form, fusing wood, glass, metal, rubber and ceramic pieces without mess or possibility of overspill. It works outdoors and once set, can hold up to 2kg, making it incredibly resilient to boot.
There are so many uses for this adult Play-Doh aside from bonding: it can be used to create seals around leaky taps, add grip holds to zips and even be used to make decorative labels on glass storage jars in the kitchen and bathroom.
Oh, and it offers electrical insulation up to 24v so it can be used to repair fraying charger cords too. Magic.
Find it in an array of colours: black, white, grey, green, brown, red, yellow, blue, pink and orange.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Woldo Clean Superglue
Specifically designed for ceramic and porcelain, Woldo’s professional clear glue bonds quickly, is waterproof and shock-resistant and will hold things together even when temperatures reach 115°C, meaning it can survive re-firing in kilns or ovens. You won’t need much of the stuff either, a pin-head squeeze spread out along the break should do the trick on broken vases, pots and ornaments. It’ll even work on broken toilet cisterns.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Nayrmaer Ceramic Glue
If you’re looking for one glue to use across the house, Nayrmaer is an incredibly versatile choice - it will work on porcelain, ceramic, glass, leather, plastic, metal and rubber. The high-strength, industrial-grade formula comes in a 30g tube with a precision tip for careful glueing and daubing in hard-to-reach areas.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Loctite Super Glue Creative Pen
Superglue specialist Loctite offers adhesives in all kinds of formats, including this pen that’s just the thing for repairing small, delicate items quickly. The gel formula is funnelled down a nib, allowing you to make a clean and precise application to broken shards. Wait a few seconds for it to set, and you’ll be left with a clear and flexible bond that’s strong enough to see to all sorts of home repairs.
Buy now £5.25, Amazon
UniBond No More Nails Original
It’s a big claim but UniBond has delivered on its ‘no more nails’ message - with thousands of positive Amazon reviews to prove it. This is more of a glue to use on larger home projects like split floor or bathroom tiles, reinforcing flat-pack furniture and fixing coving and skirting boards. It squeezes out in a thick paste, so use sparingly if applying to small items like toys and plates.
Buy now £4.50, Amazon
Gorilla Heavy Duty White Grab Adhesive 200ml
Made for minor and mid-level repairs, Gorilla’s white adhesive can be used straight out of the tube - no cartridge gun needed. The formula quickly creates a long-lasting waterproof bond between a range of surfaces, from wood and brick to concrete and ceramic. If you’re trying to repair delicate things, squeeze some of the paste out onto a surface and use a fine brush to apply the glue.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Tiepetly Ceramic Glue Fast Dry
Whether your little one has been playing too robustly with their new toys or your favourite delicate chain necklace has snapped, there’s no need to frown over the broken pieces. Reach for this fast-action glue instead: it will stick a range of materials together, including ceramic, leaving behind no trace except a waterproof and heat-resistant bond.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
FOOGWEE 30g Ceramic Glue Porcelain
Handle of your favourite mug broken off? Stick the kettle on: this glue will have it repaired in the same time it takes to brew a cuppa. The speedy formula bonds plastic, glass, ceramic, metal and stone to each other or itself in as little as 10 seconds. The small tube comes with a fine-tip nozzle so you can apply the glue to narrow and jagged edges with ease.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Ceramic Glue Pottery Glue
Fix cracks and broken bits and pieces with this ceramic glue from Rapide. The 40g tube comes with a precision tip and is fast-drying, offering a waterproof and heat-resistant bond once set. As well as pottery, it can be applied to wood, plastic, metal and rubber surfaces. A good glue to have in a minor crisis.
Buy now £4.29, Amazon
