Kintsugi - Gold Repair | Camellia Teas of Ottawa

What are the origins of kintsugi?

(Kin = gold; tsugi = joining together/joinery/repair)

The practice of kintsugi, (also known as kintsuroi), originated over 500 years ago in Japan.

One story often shared about its beginnings, is of an early warlord whose treasured teabowl broke. Devastated, he sent it abroad for repair and when it returned, it was filled with unsightly lead staples. He turned to local Japanese craftsmen and asked if they could do something better, and so the art of kintsugi was created.

Click these images to see more of Rebecca’s kintsugi (gold joinery) work on Instagram:

Why repair using kintsugi?

When one of your treasured heirlooms shatters, not only is the shock and disappointment hard to bear, but often it is difficult to throw away the pieces. At the same time, storing shards of something special can feel like such a shame.

Kintsugi allows your piece to return to its original shape or function, allowing you to continue to enjoy it once again. In many cases, a piece can become even more beautiful with this form of repair. The purpose of kintsugi is to celebrate the piece’s new beauty, not to hide any scars created by fractures.

If your broken treasure feels too precious to throw away,

kintsugi is a perfect way to repair it for use again.

How is ‘kintsugi’ done?

Assembly: The first step in a repair is to bond the broken pieces together using food-safe non-toxic glue. This process (depending on the number of pieces) can take some time as each pair is attached and then allowed to bond overnight before new pieces are added.
Gold linework: Once the piece is assembled, the gold joinery, or linework is done with the help of traditional lacquer (an ancient natural tree ‘glue’ similar in texture to pine gum) mixed with gold powder. (SILVER/BRASS/BRONZE: I do not work with these colours/metals/tones.)
Curing and polishing: After the gold and lacquer mixture has been applied, the piece begins its lengthy curing process (allowing several weeks to sometimes months) for the mixture to harden. On a daily basis, the gold linework is polished with a soft cloth to bring out its brilliance.

Kintsugi Services by Rebecca Cragg of Camellia Teas
I first began repairing my own ceramic teabowls around 2009. After seven years of training in Japan (1998 – 2005) with Master Hiroshi Tamaki in brush painting, seal carving, nihonga and shodo (calligraphy), I ventured into the world of kintsugi which I have been doing part-time since then. As a full-time artist, I bring decades of practice with a wide variety of materials and a unique touch to my repairs.

The kintsugi practice itself is laborious, meticulous and time-consuming, but not necessarily difficult. It takes time and practice to understand the viscosity of the lacquer and how much gold powder to add, and how long to wait before adding the dusting layer before burnishing (polishing). The delicacy of the line often requires magnification, and a steady hand is of course necessary for smooth lines. The brush must be frequently ‘cleaned’ in order to avoid clumping and the mixture blended to maintain a similar tone.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Can you repair my item for me?

Answer: Yes. Before your piece arrives, we have a short discussion (by email) about options as well as your budget and timeline and determine the quote. Generally speaking, a small piece (teacup, or simple repair of an item which is in 2 or 3 pieces), the fee starts at $60 (including HST) and goes up from there depending on the time, details or requirements.
Payment details: Once the quote is determined, a 50% deposit is required before work begins (this can be done by e-transfer, credit card, PayPal, cash or cheque as you prefer).
**If you are wanting a functional repair, and I don’t think it can be done reliably or safely, I will let you know. I will never repair a piece that is intended to be functional if I doubt this can be done.

Question: What materials can be repaired with kintsugi?

Answer: Typically, ceramic and porcelain are best suited for this work. However, some lighter pieces in stone, wood, jade or glass can be repaired.
**If is a piece is quite heavy (glass lampshades) or somehow structural (handles on mugs/teapots that have been fractured in many pieces) I might suggest avoiding kintsugi as such a repair could not be guaranteed.

Question: Where are you located? Can I mail my item to you?
Answer: My studio is outside Rockland, Ontario. You can bring the piece here or you can send it to me by registered (trackable) mail.

Question: How much will a repair cost me?
Answer: All repairs have a base cost of $60 which covers assembly of the pieces, fill and linework repair for small items. For larger pieces or items which require multiple layers, stages and considerably more repair work, or many more lines in the gold an lacquer, the fee can be between $75 – $150 or more. If you send photos, I can usually give a fairly accurate estimate by email.
Quote guaranteed: *Once we decide on a quote together, even if the piece requires more work, I will never charge more for the repair.

Contact Camellia Teas for a Quote

Question: Once we have decided on a repair quote and approach, what is the process?
Answer: You will bring or mail* the piece to me, I will then assemble it and once the piece is solid (this can take a few days to a few weeks), I begin the gold linework using the kintsugi method. Curing after that is done can take a month or longer. The lacquer is soft and takes some time to become firm, and then harden. If your piece is collected and used before it hardens, it can damage the repair. If it is shipped before the lacquer hardens, it can ‘blur’ or smudge the repair. Kintsugi takes time. I generally suggest planning on 4 – 6 weeks for the repair as a minimum.

*If you mail a piece, I require registered mail (shipping costs are covered by you in both directions); this ensures that the piece is both insured and can be tracked to avoid loss.

Question: Once repaired with kintsugi, is it food-safe and can I use the microwave or dishwasher on my piece?
Answer: Yes. The materials I use render the repair food safe. However, due to the use of gold, you cannot put it in a microwave or dishwasher (which can cause the repair to be eroded by abrasive soap). I recommend gentle handwashing, and not soaking the piece in very hot water.

Question: Do you offer classes or group workshops?
Answer: Due to the nature and cost of materials, in addition to the sensitivity of timing and technique, I work only one-on-one as a general principle with a client at this time.
**Due to COVID-19, all classes are suspended at this time.

Question: I don’t have anything broken. Can I take a class/can I try kintsugi?
Answer:

**Due to COVID-19, all classes are suspended at this time.

Question: Do you sell or recommend any materials for kintsugi?
Answer: No. Please do an Internet search to find the materials that best suit your needs, budget and interest.