Japanese Ceramics Kintsugi

More than merely a craft technique kintsugi is an outgrowth of the japanese philosophy of wabi sabi a belief in the beauty of imperfections.

Japanese ceramics kintsugi.

Lacquerware is a longstanding tradition in japan at some point it may have been combined. As a heritage restorer i only work following the traditional kintsugi restore technique using noble materials such as 22k gold and urushi lacquer. Welcome to the online shop of the atelier kintsugi where myriam greff presents her services as well as kintsugi restored potteries and sculptures for sale. The origins of kintsugi are uncertain but it s likely that the practice became commonplace in japan during the late 16th or early 17th centuries noted louise cort curator of ceramics at the smithsonian s freer gallery of art and arthur m.

The japanese art of kintsugi teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride. Subtle kintsugi repairs on this 19th century glazed. This lesson shows only the highlights of the. By repairing broken ceramics it s possible to give a new lease of life to pottery that becomes even more refined thanks to its scars.

Kintsugi golden joinery is the japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold silver or platinum a method similar to the maki e technique. As a philosophy it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object rather than something to disguise. Japanese kintsukuroi chawan. Its beginnings are often associated with the famed tale of a 15th century japanese military ruler whose antique.

The meaning of kintsugi kintsukuroi gold repair art. The translation from japanese of kintsugi or kintsukuroi means golden joinery or repair with gold where the gold powder is applied on lacquer some refer to it as kintsugi art with a metaphor of kintsugi life re birth or wabi sabi philosophy this technique transforms broken ceramic or pottery into beautiful. Kintsugi 金継ぎ golden joinery also known as kintsukuroi 金繕い golden repair is the japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold silver or platinum a method similar to the maki e technique. Sackler gallery in washington d c.

We restore ceramic objects implementing the japanese art of broken pottery repair kintsugi kintsukuroi using 23 5k gold and lacquer or our proprietary developed process and materials with encapsulated gold effect metals this lesson is intended to show the difference between the two kintsugi implementations methods and to learn how it is done. According to louise cort the curator of ceramics at the freer gallery of art and arthur m. By the 17th century kintsugi has become common practice in japan.