O Kiji Studio

Kintsugi UK

Unbreaking the Broken

Kintsugi is the technique of repairing earthenware or porcelain in the traditional Japanese way. Only natural material are used. The most important component of these repairs is Japanese lacquer (urushi) and the final finish is with gold or silver dust, so the breakage is accentuated and becomes part of the new life of the broken object. 

Already in the 13th century Kintsugi was used and is deeply rooted in the Japanese tradition and philosophy of Wabi Sabi: the esthetics of nature. 

Although everyone and everything is volatile and transient, beauty and maybe immortality is found in these repairs.

Japanse Lacquer (urushi)

Urushi is the milky white sap of the urushi tree (Rhus verniciflua). Mango-, cashew- en pistachio trees belong to the same family. By complex processing the raw lacquer is obtained. 

The lacquer can be used in different ways after addition of different components. It can be used as glue, filling matter and finally as a surface finish. Lacquer can harden only under specific conditions of high humidity and temperature. The liquid lacquer absorbs water from the air and polymerization creates a very hard and durable surface. The polymerization takes from a few days till about a week. When making kintsugi in the still liquid lacquer very fine gold dust is sprinkled. When making a high gloss finish, many layers of lacquer and polish are used.

Both techniques are used and taught in O Kiji Studio