Kintsugi

Kintsugi, traditional Japanese technique of repairing ceramics with lacquer and a metal powder that is usually made from gold or silver. The centuries-old practice is often used to mend treasured objects by beautifying the cracks, which serve as a visual record of the object’s history. Although kintsugi is a technique unique to Japan, it has been applied to ceramics from China and Korea, leaving a recognizable Japanese mark on these otherwise foreign objects.

The traditional kintsugi method utilizes urushi, a natural lacquer made from the sap of the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), a relative of poison ivy. Urushi has been used in the production of Japanese lacquerware for millennia and is glossy, durable, and water-resistant. Working with urushi can be a difficult process, because special conditions, such as high humidity, are necessary for it to harden and the lacquer itself can cause skin irritation.

When used for kintsugi, urushi is mixed with rice glue (forming nori urushi) or flour glue (forming mugi urushi) to create a strong adhesive. If the original ceramic is missing small pieces, a paste (sabi urushi) made from urushi and clay powder is used to fill in the gaps. The urushi-glue mixture is applied to the cracks, and the segments are pieced back together, after which the object is left to dry and harden for one to three months. Any excess urushi is removed through abrasion with charcoal or some other method. Thin lines of coloured urushi—usually red, although occasionally black—are painted onto the fractures, and metal powder is sprinkled over the surface, a process similar to maki-e, in which metal powder is sprinkled or sprayed over wet lacquer. The result is lines of gold or silver running through the ceramic.

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In the case of a damaged rim or extension, such as a foot or handle, the object’s form is rebuilt with a technique similar to kanshitsu. The missing area is filled with either cloth soaked in urushi and sabi urushi or layers of lacquer until the desired shape is formed. Once the missing piece is recreated, dried, and hardened, a layer of coloured urushi is put on top of the new addition and covered with metal powder.

The origin of kintsugi is unknown. A popular story tells of the technique’s development in the late 15th century when shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa’s favourite Chinese tea bowl was broken. According to the tale, he sent the bowl to China to be repaired. When it returned, it was mended with staples, a practice in which metal is inserted into drilled holes on either side of the break to keep the pieces together. Yoshimasa disliked the appearance and had Japanese craftspeople come up with a new method that was more aesthetically pleasing, hence the beginnings of kintsugi.

While it is unclear how much of the story is true, it does suggest that kintsugi was not widespread until after the 15th century, about the time when the Japanese tea ceremony was developed. The practice, an intimate gathering with specialized and strict procedures, emphasizes the relationship between the host, guests, and surrounding objects, such as hanging paintings and tea utensils. In the mid 16th century, Japanese tea master Sen Rikyū and others refined the tea ceremony, establishing the wabi and sabi aesthetics, which were integral to the development of Japanese-made ceramics. Although the terms are difficult to translate, wabi generally emphasizes the beauty in simplicity, whereas sabi is understood as an appreciation for the old and rusted. When combined, they form the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which promotes deriving value from imperfection and impermanence.

Wabi-sabi is often linked with the practice of kintsugi, because, unlike other methods of ceramic repair, kintsugi does not attempt to hide the breaks but instead draws attention to them. Fixing an object with kintsugi, a specialized and time-intensive process, not only extends the ceramic’s life but also displays its history and perhaps gives the piece greater emotional value.

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The traditional kintsugi technique is still practiced and has recently gained more attention. Aspects of the kintsugi process have been incorporated into the work of some contemporary artists, including Japanese artist Tomomi Kamoshita, who uses a technique inspired by kintsugi to connect broken ceramics found on beaches, and Korean artist Yee Sookyung, who creates abstract sculptures with discarded pieces from other Korean ceramists. Kintsugi, due to its embrace of flaws and endurance, has also become a frequent metaphor for resilience, recovery, and acceptance in wellness circles as well as in academia.