The odd bit of damage doesn't bother me on something with age, especially for anything that is unique.
I have had two pieces "repaired". One in which an extremely ugly manufacturing flaw - an excess lump in a wrong colour (it looked as if a lump of mustard was stuck onto it) which spoiled the whole thing, was something I had removed.
There is photographic evidence of before and after with my full confession here somewhere. I later sold it, with the history shown and known to the buyer, who was happy about it and said they would have done exactly the same thing.
The other item was a charger. Some previous owner had scratched their own name on the bottom. It was absolutely not an artist's signature and the piece itself has been positively identified by somebody who was there when it was made and remembered it distinctly.
But the sort of damage that comes from an accident or general wear and tear is just part of its history. You can either tolerate a damaged thing, or go without.
I really do not know what I think about the notion of trying to repair gilding. I don't even know if it can be done.
If it were done, and the repair was made subtly obvious to remain honest, would it be any more attractive than just leaving it?