Traditional kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art that repairs broken ceramics* using urushi lacquer, the sap of the urushi tree, and often finishing with a layer of gold, silver or another metal or a lacquer. The word “kintsugi” translates to “gold [kin]” and “to join [tsugi]”. *Kintsugi is a technique that can also be used to repair other materials, for example glass and wood.
Kintsugi is rooted in the Japanese aesthetic and philosophy of wabi-sabi, that finds beauty in imperfection, sustainability and transience. Instead of discarding broken objects, kintsugi practitioners embrace the damage as part of the object’s past, recognising its history and honouring its scars.
That which was broken, once repaired, becomes stronger and more beautiful.
Traces of repairs done with urushi have been found in pots over 4000 years old, but kintsugi as we know it today is thought to have evolved in the 15th century, during the Muromachi period (1336-1573).
The exact origin is unclear, but it is widely attributed to the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490), who is said to have broken a treasured Chinese tea bowl used for tea ceremonies. He sent the damaged tea bowl back to China for repair, but it was returned with metal staples that the shogun considered unsightly. Japanese craftsmen worked to find a more aesthetically pleasing way to repair the item. Their work is said to have led to the art of kintsugi.
To learn more about urushi lacquer, click here.
Please note: Traditional kintsugi is not to be confused with ‘modern kintsugi’ or ‘neo kintsugi’. Modern and neo kintsugi mimic traditional kintsugi but use epoxy glues and resins. The finish then can be either authentic urushi lacquer, or more commonly, some form of varnish and brass powder. The advantage is that it is easier and quicker to use. In very experienced hands, the results can be good but it is difficult to reproduce the finesse, beauty and durability of traditional kintsugi. It tends not to be food safe.
