24K Gold Kintsugi Kyoto Teapot | Nandina Through the Lattice
Refined by Tea Masters Since the sixteenth century, the tastes of tea masters have shaped Kyoto ware, and this teapot features one of its most auspicious designs: the shippo pattern of interlocking circles that expand endlessly as a symbol of harmony. Here, the pattern is drawn in gold and green enamel across the entire porcelain body. Born of Kyoto’s Heritage: This piece too is authentic Kyo-yaki pottery, handcrafted using time-honored techniques and refined by centuries of Japanese artistry. Learn more → The Art and Technique of Kyoto Ware A Chip Turned Auspicious The spout was rebuilt with urushi, finished with 24-karat gold kintsugi, and polished with a traditional tool after it was chipped. On the spout's white background, lacquer artist Maki Mizuno painted a nandina branch using the urushi-e technique. Mizuno supervised the kintsugi craft in a published manga on the subject. Her watercolor sensibility governs every tone: the branch in bengara brown, matching the pot's lines, and the berries in pink rather than the usual red, allowing the gold tip to remain the quiet focus. The restoration and decoration process took four months using urushi lacquer. Fortune at the Break In Japan, the nandina plant is considered a symbol of turning misfortune into fortune. Here, the plant is painted precisely where the damage occurred. Its branch extends toward the gilded chip at the spout's tip, forming a distinctive combination of motif and restoration. By collecting it, you take part in continuing the tea tradition of restored Kyoto ware, a craft that endures through the objects entrusted to private hands.