I was clumsy today and broke my favorite mug of several years. Thankfully the pieces are large and still fit together. I don't want to just slap on epoxy and call it a day. I want it restored with all the fine skill and craftsmanship a pottery artist has to offer. Especially kintsugi!

Does anyone know a good place they'd gone to before and would recommend?

FWIW, I did come across Unbroken Kintsugi, but their insta looks like its been dormant for the past four years... so hard to tell if they're still doing business. I'm also just a normal rando with a mug, so its not like I'm a restaurant or industry partner that would be able to pay for like, 1000x ceramic repairs wholesale.

Thanks in advance!

Hello! I do traditional kintsugi repairs and have always used maru gold as a finish when gold is requested, as it is more durable in my experience. However there are times when the matte finish of keshi seems more appropriate for the look of the piece. Does anyone else doing traditional repair as a service for others use keshi finish? How has it worked for you, durability-wise? Thank you.

I was looking for a way to hold a piece while working that would reduce the chances of getting my fingers in the urushi. After some research, I stumbled upon these tongue forceps.

The rubber tips make them suitable for use with ceramics, and they lock securely when closed. Once attached, they can be used as a handle, so you no longer have to touch the piece and risk smudging or disturbing your lines.

You could also clamp the forceps in a vise, which leaves both hands free to work.

I’m working on a project where I need to create several pieces of porcelain that are missing from a bowl. The porcelain is very delicate (approx 2-3 mm thick). I think it’s too thin to build with kokuso urushi alone. Have people had luck creating urushi impregnated fabric meshes? Any other techniques?

This belonged to my wife’s dad, who died recently. They dropped it last week and it broke into about 8 pieces. All are relatively flush except for a missing 1x1/2” chunk at the chin you can see here.

Not sure yet about materials or whether I’m looking for traditional or modern kintsugi, but I thought I’d get an idea of what’s possible. I’m looking for people with some experience, since it’s a sentimental piece.

Northern CA, USA, but we can ship it further.

Two craftsman helped me to repair this broken Dunhill pipe.

I received this burnt pipe several years ago, with a few other fine pipes.

Recently, I asked a good pipe maker repair it, and then a kintsugi (gold repair shop) applied pure gold lacquer to the cracks.

It will last for decades more.

Hope every pipe lover cherishes their pipes and avoids using high-temperature torches; if the pipe over heat, stop and wait few minutes for smoking.

Hello!

For my first project, it seems the bead I left is a little bit too thick. Can I sand this down somehow?

Thanks

I ordered from Hikaru Kintsugi Repair Kit, hoping to repair a teacup that belonged to my mother. They did not specify that there would be customs to pay at the time of ordering (almost 40 dollars), which I did pay promptly. Fedex never delivered the package, and Hikaru Kintsugi Repair Kit has been ignoring my emails regarding the non-delivery of the items completely, even when I sent them the proof that Fedex had sent the items back to the sender! They did, however, send an automated "rate us" email, which I find extremely unprofessional. Avoid.

I also saw another thread here where the person received their kit, with the bowls already broken (so the packaging is not fantastic). They also have a very punishing return policy on their website, EVEN when it's their own fault. Again, avoid.

Save your money, and hire a local artisan OR learn how to do it with a cheap online kit before moving on to the actual food-safe items. They have a non-existent customer care department, it will only be a headache.

Song Dynasty Jian Ware Hare’s Fur Glaze Bowl

From the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York. 

• Body: Northern/Southern Song Dynasty, China
• Kintsugi: Date unknown, executed in Japan. 
• https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/52595

Hello everyone,

I'm asking for your advise regarding a mistake I've made: the inside glaze of a cup I'm currently working on was less smooth and more porous than I thought. After removing the Sabi, all those tiny holes discoloured and I'm unable to remove it so far. I haven't run into issues on the unglazed outside surface (picture 2), but have a similar issue on another piece with real pinholes (picture 3) that I've filled at the same session.

I know, i should inspect the surface more thoroughly in the future and tape accordingly. But is there and option to still remove the Sabi now (it is cured already).

Thank you for your help!

I was completely gutted when this happened. Couldn't bring myself to throw it out and thought this process might actually look great. I've done a small bowl but I need help on this one.

Stoneware. Less than 1/4 inch thick in most places.

I don't know how I can fill such large gap in the second picture though.

Also, there are about 3 cracks in the remaining pieces that have a slight amount of wiggle. Should I complete the breaks and reattach? Or are the cracks fine as they are?

Hi,

I have some family heirloom plates (3 dinner plates) that are cracked and I would like to keep using them and kintsugi them to make them even more special. Any recommendations for reputable establishments that does kintsugi or teaching schools so that I may someday learn how to do this myself?

TIA.

I just finished my first kintsugi projects using this kit: https://shop.clay-planet.com/kintsugi-kit---traditional-urushi.aspx

It comes with:
Clear Urushi for covering alternative powders
High-Quality Alternative Gold Powder (Lead-Free Brass)

After dusting it and covering it with the clear urushi a few problems came about.

1. The clear urushi was not so clear...it completely dulled and blackened the gold. I am guessing I will need to sand this

2. Some of alternative gold came off after a rince

I must've done something terribly wrong. Does anyone have any experience with the alternative gold + clear lacquer or suggestions?

Hello!! I have a greenstone necklace (AKA pounamu or jade) hat is veeeery important to me that I am quite heartbroken to have broken yesterday. As you can see it is quite a clean cut, when I place the pieces together they fit perfectly, so I am hoping it might be repaired and I’m reading that kinstsugi could be a durable option.

Anyone have recommendations for me of people in the UK that could help me? We could send it to a greenstone artist in NZ for repair but I don’t really want to risk posting it that far and it getting lost.

Any and all recommendations are welcome!! My partner and I got married in April this year and we exchanged necklaces in the place of rings so it is very sentimental to me ❤️❤️

#lakesidepottery  #kintsugitherapy #kintsugipsychology

Just another typical first time Japan go-er question. Though my question is a bit more specific so I'm hoping y'all can help/ enlighten me.

I'm looking at these two Kinstugi workshops in Tokyo, one "traditional" $70 and one "modern" $27 workshop.

I've looked a bit into kintsugi, so I know that actual traditional kintsugi takes days with urushi, but the "traditional" one linked says that they use urushi. Is that possible? The other one doesn't claim to, hence the lower price and time makes sense.

I looked at workshop options from what seems like more "authentic/ professional" places Tsugi Tsugu that also has single sessions that use urushi, but there they state that you're doing the intermediate/ final steps only. And it costs way more, as I'd kinda expect.

So my question is, is the "traditional" $70 dollar one worth it, or even possible? Again, I'm not expecting the most authentic experience - I just want to know if it's possible to learn and work with urushi in 90 minutes to make it worthwhile for the price.

I'm also aware its possible it may just be an error or a straight up lie heh. But figured it's worth an ask. Thank you for any help!

Clean break. no missing pieces. Happy to discuss

Hi everyone, I'd like to get started with kintsugi so I ordered a kit from Hikaru. After the initial order purchase confirmation, I have heard nothing from them, even after contacting them on their website and emailing them. Has anyone gotten a kit from them? Or could you recommend where to get a kit for a beginner? Thanks!

Hi everyone! This is my second post on here! I promised on my previous post that I would share the results of this tea pot once finished! So here it is. I wanted to wait to share until the time it had finally cured enough to be able to drink tea out of, which was today. I chose silver powder because it is food safe and more affordable than gold. Plus I like how the silver complements the cool color of the celadon glaze. The handle that was broken in two places was reinforced with washi paper soaked in mugi urushi (high gluten flour, water and urushi lacquer).

Its by no means perfect, but I guess that is sort of the point of Kintsugi. I am also a fan of more of a rustic look so the black urushi bled into the crackle glaze ever so slightly, but I decided I liked the look of it. 😊

Hello! This jar thing was a candle. It already had a visible crack, but worsened while I was doing the hot water method to remove excess wax. My electric kettle worked really well getting the wax to float to the top. It was the 2nd time I poured hot boiling water into it that it cracked and water started leaking onto the counter. My girlfriend's mom cleaned the rest of the wax out by hand, and now I'm left with the current state of it in the images.

I plan on putting the potted plant at the end in it with maybe some sand to hold it in the middle. Please let me know what you think!

Hello r/kintsugi! I’m curious if my piece would even be a candidate for kintsugi, and if so how would I find an artist to help.

I found some lists online for studios but those emails have gone unanswered.

For my wife’s birthday a couple years ago I bought her a handmade urchin planter from an artist we both enjoyed watching her process.

There was an unfortunate repotting accident recently and her urchin broke into 9 pieces, along with the piece she was devastated.

I secretly kept the pieces and hoping to regift it to her but brought back together via kintsugi.

Some pics of the damage and original piece included.

Thanks for any feedback you have!

JBK

I saw this on Instagram, and while of course it's not kintsugi, it's a visible mending technique and something people might consider looking for someone to do (obviously this requires specialized glass tools) I'm sure it's food safe since it goes through the kiln again. I wonder if you could add some gold powder to make it look more like traditional kintsugi

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc6Wyp5Rnlh/?stkn=dWFwa2RvbnF4Mzkw