If you’ve ever cracked a piece of pottery, you know the feeling of disappointment and frustration. It seems like such a waste to have to discard something that’s damaged when it could be repaired and still be used. That’s where kintsugi comes in. Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, silver, or platinum lacquer. The result is a beautiful repair that makes the item even more special than before. If you’re looking for a kintsugi kit, here are some of the best ones available on the market today.
I am a very sentimental person. Not just about the objects in my life, but also important moments and memories from when I was small up until now that makes me cry whenever they come up for discussion with family members or friends who know what is best to do around these parts (i.e., avoid talking/thinking of anything related). When an old pie plate fell apart on loan at home while sitting next-door by dad telling him how much he meant sorry…I don’t think there can ever really be too much emotion involved!
When I was grieving for my plate, dad and brother told me they had a plan. They got to work with the help of one kintsugi repair kit from Japan-based friends who are traditional ceramic enthusiasts; it’s an ancient process that only requires glue and gold powder!
The process of repairing teacups and bowls has been a practice for over 500 years in Japan, but it’s one that can take time. When transforming your broken utensil into something beautiful again with this art form – you will find yourself getting more out than what was put into the work! There are so many ways you can take up the practice of kintsugi! You could watch videos on YouTube or Instagram and find tutorials for making your own at home. There’s also plenty out there in terms of DIY kits that allow people to give it a try without any majorly expensive materials, like ones made with real gold powder and urushi lacquer as well those who use glue instead – all depending upon what works best suited towards their needs (and budget). If you want your repaired ceramic to be food-safe, Shaneyfelt advises that “you need the kits with real urushi lacquer and genuine gold or platinum powder.” Kits using glue should only be used for decorative purposes.
Kintsugi Repair Kit for Pro with Genuine Gold Powder
When I got my pie plate back from my brother, the repairs didn’t make me sad at all. In fact, they’re more like a keepsake than what it was before! And since there’s enough material for 10-20 pieces in this kit (with leftover), he gladly gave them up so that I could have something special while keeping everything else too 🙂
I was excited to give kintsugi a try for my first time, but I wanted it done right. So instead of just using any old kit that would be too slow and expensive (and not really knowing what steps were involved), we used the KIrusi gold powder with urushi chips in order to get an instant antique-like finish on something like our mugs or bowls where you could drink outta them again after fixing their rims! The brand has a tutorial video on YouTube with English subtitles, which I relied heavily upon to watch certain techniques like removing any excess lacquer once it had dried or dusting gold powder onto the surface using fluffy silk fibers. Also, urushi lacquers are known for causing skin irritation in some people so make sure you wear gloves and long sleeves while working! Shaneyfelt recommends being patient and taking your time with each step or else the lacquer might not set correctly. She also says it’s best to brush on urushi lightly, repeating two-three times if necessary for even coverage; once everything has been applied thoroughly rub over the area using vegetable oil until the shiny finish is achieved.
The time I spent repairing my chipped mug was so rewarding, I decided to make a one-of-a-kind piece. The process took about five hours and included drying the lacquer before applying it again with patience as well! Though I’m still a total beginner, my finished mug which I love isn’t going to win any awards. That’s not the point though as Marie Kondo from Japan told me; “Kintsugi perfectly captures what it means for something to be beautiful in simplicity.” By repairing things you have instead of throwing them away and buying new ones-you create an even deeper connection with your objects because they’ve seen some use!
Conclusion
Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold or silver lacquer, is an interesting alternative to throwing away something that’s just been damaged. The stunning results are a testament to how beautiful ceramic pieces can be when repaired instead of discarded. If you’re interested in kintsugi repair kits for your own broken items, take a look at our list below. What do you think about this ancient technique? How might it work on your favorite piece of pottery? Share any thoughts and ideas in the comments section!
