Traditional kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that repairs broken ceramics by mending the breaks using urushi lacquer, the sap of the urushi tree, and often finishing with a layer of gold, silver or other metal. The word “kintsugi” translates as “gold [kin]” and “to join [tsugi]”.
Kintsugi is rooted in the Japanese aesthetic and philosophy of wabi-sabi, that finds beauty in imperfection, sustainability and transience. That which is broken, once repaired, becomes stronger and more beautiful.
Instead of discarding broken objects, kintsugi practitioners see the damage as part of the object’s history, accepting its scars – in repairing the object, its past is honoured, and the object is both more beautiful and stronger.
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Traditional kintsugi involves several stages and is not to be confused with ‘modern kintsugi’ which uses epoxy glues and resins.
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If your piece has been finished in gold, silver or urushi lacquer it is food safe.
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View a selection of work by nmckintsugi.
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