what is kintsugi?

Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics using urushi, a natural lacquer that restores, transforms, and strengthens the piece over time while protecting the ceramic with natural materials

Rather than hiding cracks, kintsugi honors them: embracing the history of the object and the beauty of imperfection.

How I do it:

Kintsugi is slower than you think. I learned the traditional process here in Kyoto, in a studio where everything is done by hand: from the materials to the finish.

I use urushi, a natural lacquer, which makes the process non-toxic and ensures the piece can still be used after the repair. Funny enough, gold is used the least. Urushi is what holds everything together.