What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) is the ancient, traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold. Pronounced kin-SOO-gee it translates from Japanese as ‘gold joinery.’ Highlighting the repair with gold allows the break to become part of the piece itself rather than something hidden.

The Kintsugi Process

Kintsugi is a mindful practice, each repair is done with care and reverence for the piece. Broken fragments are bonded with urushi, a natural lacquer made from tree sap. The repair is then built up layer by layer to strengthen and refine. Between layers, the piece rests in a muro, a humidity-controlled cabinet, until the lacquer has fully cured.

The process takes months to fully allow the materials to cure. The final finish, often genuine gold, traces and honors the lines of the break. The piece comes back whole and usable, carrying a visible record of its history and the care that restored it.

  • Steps for Kintsugi Repair

    1. Start with a Clean Slate: The piece is carefully cleaned, removing old glue and stabilizing crumbling areas while assessing breakage and determining a repair plan.

    2. Piece It Together: Using a mix of natural urushi and flour, we reassemble the fragments. The piece cures for several days in a humidity- and temperature-controlled environment.

    3. Fill in the Gaps: A mixture of urushi and terracotta powder is applied to fill any cracks, then left to cure for a few days.

    4. Smooth It Out: The filler is sanded until the surface of the piece is as smooth as possible; steps 2–3 are repeated until it looks just right.

    5. Add Some Color: Layers of red and black lacquer are applied over the repaired areas for an even finish. The piece cures for a few days after each layer.

    6. Get Ready for Gold: A beautiful red lacquer is applied as a base for the gold powder, as it brings out the warmth of the gold.

    7. The Gold Touch: 24k gold powder is sprinkled over the red lacquer, then polished gently to a lustrous finish.

    8. The Waiting Game: Pieces cure one final time for 2–4 weeks to ensure the durability of the repairs.

    The repaired piece is ready for use!