Golden Repairs: The Art of Kintsugi

Modern kintsugi plate with gold repair, turning cracks into art.

Kintsugi, which translates as “golden repair,” is a centuries-old Japanese technique for fixing broken pottery using lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Far from being a mere utilitarian solution, kintsugi embodies a philosophy: that the history of an object, including its fractures and imperfections, adds to its value rather than detracts from it. After all, who wouldn’t want to flaunt their scars if they were literally gilded?  

The story begins in the late 15th century, when the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (a man with exquisite taste and possibly zero tolerance for ugly fixes) sent his favorite Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs. To his dismay, it returned with clunky metal staples—a solution that screamed “medieval orthopedic surgery.” Frustrated, he commissioned Japanese artisans to find a more elegant solution. Enter lacquer and powdered gold, and voilà, the art of kintsugi was born. Not only was the tea bowl repaired, but its cracks were glorified, transforming it into a piece of art.

One remarkable kintsugi technique is Yobitsugi, where missing fragments of a broken ceramic are replaced with pieces from entirely different objects. For example, a tea bowl repaired with Yobitsugi might feature a patch from another bowl, creating a striking contrast in patterns and textures. These repairs celebrate diversity and imperfection, turning the object into a mosaic of history and beauty.

Another prominent name in modern kintsugi is Kunio Nakamura, a Japanese craftsman celebrated for elevating this ancient technique into the realm of contemporary art. Nakamura has created extraordinary kintsugi pieces showcased in international museums, bringing new life to forgotten shards and inspiring audiences worldwide with the philosophy of beauty in imperfection.

Kintsugi isn’t just about making something broken beautiful; it’s rooted in a much deeper philosophy. The practice is linked to wabi-sabi, the Japanese concept that embraces imperfection and acknowledges the fleeting nature of all things. Rather than trying to erase the damage, kintsugi celebrates the bowl’s history—the cracks tell a story, and in doing so, the object becomes more valuable.

The process of kintsugi itself is as much an art form as the finished product. First, the broken pieces are carefully reassembled using urushi, a lacquer made from the sap of the urushi tree, known for its flexibility and durability. This lacquer bonds the broken fragments securely together. Multiple layers of lacquer are applied, and after each layer dries, the cracks are dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, which adheres to the lacquer, transforming the fractures into shimmering seams. The final step often involves polishing the seams, giving the repair a smooth, lustrous finish. The result is not only a beautiful, functional object but one whose cracks are now the feature that draws the most attention.

By the Edo period (1603–1868), kintsugi had become a staple (pun intended) of Japanese aesthetics, closely aligned with the philosophy of wabi-sabi—the appreciation of imperfection and transience. During this time, broken ceramics weren’t simply tossed aside; they were repaired in such a way that their flaws became the highlight. Imagine breaking your smartphone today and, instead of sulking, turning the cracks into golden lightning bolts. That’s the energy of kintsugi.

In the end, kintsugi isn’t just about repairing broken pottery—it’s about embracing imperfections and turning them into something beautiful. The cracks, rather than being hidden, are celebrated, adding value and character to the object. Maybe it’s time we apply that philosophy to our own lives: after all, a flawless vase is nice, but one with a bit of gold running through its seams? That’s a story worth telling. So whether it's a cracked mug or a bruised ego, kintsugi teaches us that even the broken can become a masterpiece—with just a little bit of gold.