When a houseguest breaks something

[Miss Sparkly]

Best friend and boyfriend came to visit for four days. He's only 20 years old, and although I'm only 24, I really can't handle a 20 year old! (she's 25). Anyway, one of them, from what I can gather it was the boyfriend, broke a piece from my antique tea set (it was my grandmothers when she was a little girl). They were goofing off from what I can gather and knoced into my curio cabinet. They offered to replace it however neither I nor my grandmother have never been able to find anything like it.

Has anybody seen anything like this? The only stamp it has says "made in Japan" in red - but that's wearing off

Would you ask for anything or just take it as being immature and let it go? BTW - they had to have hit my curio pretty hard to break something inside of it

eta: that's funny that you can now see the "names" of my photos! I get bored with trying to think up original file names

 

[Nashville]

Ugh! What a pain, I'm sorry!

They are not 4 years old, they are old enough to behave properly in someone else's home and manage to not break their stuff. If they are offering to pay for a replacement, I'd take it.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

How badly damaged is the piece? It might be easier to have it repaired, good luck!

 

[LGK]

I can look it up for you in the bookstore at the antique mall I work at on Wednesday when I'm at work next. Likely it is somewhat post WWII, however, because MIJ pottery & porcelain was first marked Nippon with a maple leaf in the late 1800s thru 1921, then Nippon with an M in a wreath til WWII, then Made in Occupied Japan through the early 50s if I recall (well, whenever we left off occupying them at any rate, I'm pretty sure it was some years post WWII). Off the top of my head anyway, that's the way the marks evolved.

Then came the more modern MIJ mark you have there. The design looks like '50s too. The pattern may or may not be referenced in the MIJ books, there were a LOT of porcelain transfer designs. Value is probably in the $10-$20 range, unless it has a lithophane at the bottom of the cup. (Hold it up to the light and check- the most common lithophane is the face of a geisha girl.) The lithophane c&s are a bit more valuable.

ETA: And yes. They ought to replace it if possible and pay for it if not. How lame! I've got a lot of antiques and I'd be furious if some of them were broken especially if locked upin a curio.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

How exciting - it may have an identity to me now! I have several pieces of this set so it would be nice to replace the broken one and see if there are any missing pieces. It does not have any other marks besides the made in japan. Hmmm, if you're thinking 1950's then maybe she told me incorrectly? She was born in 1932 which if it were her's would place it in the 40's

 

[starryeyed]

Sparkly, I would not say "no" until I tried to find the pattern. Check out these guys: http://www.replacements.com/

If they can find a replacement, I'd think about passing along the bill. Sounds like it could be awkward though?

 

[LGK]

How exciting - it may have an identity to me now! I have several pieces of this set so it would be nice to replace the broken one and see if there are any missing pieces. It does not have any other marks besides the made in japan.

Yup, they usually don't unless they're Noritake. Most MIJ porcelain is just stamped MIJ, nothing else. Hopefully I'll find it! Some don't have names for the patterns, just #s. But at least you can search it that way then.

You could definitely have it repaired. The folks out there doing repairs are awesome these days if it isn't smashed to powder. I can post some repair folks's info for you on Wed too if you like. There's a few that I've seen do *amazing* work. $50 is what the one I'm most familiar with charges for smaller pieces like this.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

It already found the garbage can. It was pretty bad. Almost like they broke it, tried to pick it up, dropped it, stepped on, gosh I really don't know at this point! Whatever happened to it was quite 'special' DH and I had left to pick up pizza so we weren't home to see what happened.

 

[packrat]

Seems a bit much for something to be pieced out that bad b/c a curio was bumped into. I had a cabinet fall onto the floor-an open faced one-and all my small breakable roosters landed on the floor, and some of them ended up that way, but never inside a closed curio that got bumped. Good thing nothing else broke! I would definitely have them pay to replace it if you can locate the pattern. It's not like it was a dish from Walmart.

 

[radiantquest]

I would be really angry. Your house is not a playground! If it were me I would tell them that they are replacing it. Plain and simple. Not only would they be replacing it they would also be doing all the leg work to have it replaced. Maybe that will teach them to respect someone elses house. It would be different if it were an accident that happened from normal household activities. If someone tripped or lost their balance or something like that I would be nearly as upset, but to break something in my home because you were horseplaying!? Nope wouldnt have it. Wow! I am one bitter person today arent I?

 

[dragonfly411]

Radiant - I actually agree wholeheartedly with you. At 20 I expect people to know how to respect the homes and belongings of others and not destroy things through roughhousing.

 

[movie zombie]

Radiant - I actually agree wholeheartedly with you. At 20 I expect people to know how to respect the homes and belongings of others and not destroy things through roughhousing.

and i agree with dragonfly who agrees with Radiant.

MoZo