Kintsugi History

Kintsugi – The Art of Golden Repair
Originating in Japan during the late 15th century, Kintsugi (金継ぎ, “golden joinery”) emerged when a shogun sent a broken tea bowl to China for repair, only to receive it back crudely stapled. Japanese artisans responded by mending the cracks with urushi lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, transforming damage into beauty.

Kintsugi embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi—finding beauty in imperfection—and teaches that breakage and repair are part of an object’s history, not flaws to hide. It is both a craft and a meditation on resilience, acceptance, and transformation.

The basic technique involves carefully gathering broken pieces, aligning and bonding them with urushi, filling gaps with a mixture of lacquer and clay powder, then sanding smooth. The repaired lines are finished with gold powder, creating luminous “scars” that celebrate the object’s unique journey.

Do Kintsugi at home

  • Step 1 – Joining the Pieces

    Mix urushi lacquer with flour and a little water until it forms a smooth paste. Apply a thin layer to the edges of each broken piece, then carefully fit the pieces together.

  • Step 2 – First Cure

    Place the assembled pottery in a high-humidity cardboard box for 1–2 weeks. This allows the lacquer to harden slowly and bond the pieces firmly.

  • Step 3 – Filling the Gaps

    Mix urushi lacquer with tonoko (fine clay powder) to create a putty. Use this to fill small gaps between the joined parts, as well as any chips or missing edges.

  • Step 4 – Cure Again

    Return the piece to the humidity box so the filler can harden in 1-2 weeks

  • Step 5 – Smoothing the Surface

    Gently sand the hardened putty around the joints. The goal is to make the seams level and remove any excess without scratching the pottery’s glaze.

  • Step 6 – Gold Application

    Using a fine brush, apply a thin layer of urushi lacquer over the joints. Place the piece in the humidity box for about 20 minutes—just until the lacquer becomes slightly tacky.

    With a soft brush, lightly dust gold powder onto the lacquered seams. Then, using a small silk ball, gently polish the gold to bring out its shine.

  • Final Curing

    Place the finished piece in the humidity box for 1–2 weeks. This final curing stage hardens the lacquer completely.
    Once cured, your pottery is ready—a unique piece where the cracks have become part of its beauty.