It is a technique as ancient as it is fascinating and in recent years, which has also spread to the West to tell us that scars, the signs of time and cracks are not something to hidebut to be displayed with pride because they can become a source of beauty no less than perfection.
Let’s talk about kintsugi, the Japanese technique that reattaches shattered ceramic shards with gold. Let’s see together how to practice DIY kintsugi.
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What is kintsugi
The ancient art of kintsugi was born around 1400 in Japan which, at the time, was a constellation of fiefdoms ruled by local shoguns. Right at the court of one of them, Ashikaga Yoshimasathis technique was born.
According to legend, one day the shogun dropped a cup of tea from his hand and shattered. The master potters were tasked with repairing it, but they did so using metal staples that left the damage visible, making it even worse. The shogun was furious until a ceramist had the idea: to use gold.
What does kintsugi mean
The ceramist who imagined the new technique assembled the shards using urushi lacquer, a special red lacquer which he then sprinkled with gold dust. The repaired cracks not only made the cup usable again, but also more beautiful than before.
L’broken object becomes a metaphor for life itself subjected to continuous impacts that can alter it, crack it, even break it irremediably. However, mistakes, falls and scars should not be erased or hidden, they instead become an opportunity to imagine a new turning point.
The cracks give new value to the objectand more meaning to life.
DIY kintsugi
Today it is possible to practice the art of DIY kintsugi by purchasing complete kits which allow you to test yourself and transform broken ceramics into something new and more beautiful than before.
There urushi lacquer of the traditional technique is not easy to find in Europe, but it can be used in its place epoxy resin. There golden dust instead of real gold dust it will color the resin giving the same final effect but at a lower cost.
The alternative to kintsugi: gintsugi
If, instead of gold, you decide to use silveryou are practicing a similar technique with a slightly different name.
Is called gintsugi, from the term gin which in Japanese means silver. On some ceramics the effect of silver will be even more beautiful than gold.
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How to practice DIY kintsugi
Add the epoxy resin to the gold dust in a disposable container. The amount of resin must be three times that of the powder.
Mixedand until you obtain a fluid and completely golden mixture. Glue the shards together using the golden resin freshly prepared. Once dry, fill any gaps with more resin.
