I was enthralled...
When I first learned about Kintsugi I was completely captivated both by the idea and the technique. As an artist, Kintsugi seemed to embody many of my skill sets at once and I immediately set out to learn all I could about the traditional method of Kintsugi. I researched the techniques used in traditional Kintsugi repair, sourced Japanese suppliers for traditional materials and constructed a Muro box. I then began an amazing journey where every day I'm learning new ways to improve my skills with this amazing and uplifting craft.
All items in my shop are made using various Urushi lacquers from Japan, cured after each layer of lacquer in the Muro box, and decorated with metallic powder made specifically for Kintsugi. You will not find any epoxy glue or mica powder used in my repairs.
Any vintage or antique ceramics have been sourced from a couple of different antique dealers in Japan. I check in regularly with them to see if they have any vintage or antique ceramics that are already damaged. The damage and the Kintsugi repair become part of the history of the item.
In our throw-away culture, I have found it can be very difficult to source already broken objects for repair. I frequent thrift markets, have advertised for anyone's broken ceramics and even approached local potters to buy any of their pieces that have broken in the kiln. I also source ceramics directly from Japan in an attempt to support contemporary Japanese ceramic artists. With this in mind many contemporary items in my shop I have had to intentionally break. Although I have found even intentionally breaking a piece is not an easy task but requires a quiet and directed mindset; a deft hand is necessary to not completely obliterate the object of repair. I hope in the future to be able to locate a reliable source of already broken material so my work can more fully embody the spirit of Kintsugi. But in the meantime, I look for unique and original ceramics (always crediting the original ceramic artist) whose beauty and strength will be enhanced through the art of Kintsugi or already damaged vintage and antique ceramics.
If you have any questions please contact me any time.