24K Gold Kintsugi Arita Matcha Bowl | Dark Current

Discover the Japanese Art of Kintsugi Kintsugi, derived from the Japanese words "kin" (gold) and "tsugi" (to mend), is the ancient art of restoring broken pottery with natural Urushi lacquer and enhancing it with powdered metals such as pure gold. Though often recognized abroad simply as “golden joinery,” kintsugi is in fact one expression within Japan’s broader tradition of urushi lacquer arts. More than restoration, it is rooted in wabi-sabi—embracing imperfection, resilience, and renewal, while honoring the vessel’s history. To truly understand this art, one must first look to its foundation: urushi lacquer, a natural and sustainable material remarkable for its strength and versatility. For centuries, this living medium has been used to create Japan’s distinctive artistry. Why Urushi Is the Heart of Kintsugi? Urushi lacquer is a natural, sustainable material derived from the sap of the lacquer tree. It has been used for centuries in kintsugi due to its remarkable properties: Strong Adhesion: Ensures durable restoration. Water Resistance: Protects against leaks. Chemical Resistance: Resists acids, alkalis, salts, and alcohols. Thermal Insulation: Shields against heat. Antiseptic Properties: Naturally resists bacteria and fungi. Strong Film Formation: As the urushi lacquer dries, it forms a strong film that makes the restored piece resilient and durable. These versatile properties make urushi lacquer perfect for kintsugi, creating strong, beautiful and durable restorations that honor the history of the original piece and become cherished heirlooms. In addition, urushi lacquer is a sustainable material that is naturally sourced and promotes eco-friendly craftsmanship that respects both tradition and the environment. The Kintsugi Process (4-5 Months) Application: We carefully restore cracks, chips, or broken pieces with urushi lacquer, sometimes mixing with other natural materials for extra strength, depending on the damage. Layering: Restored areas are coated with several layers of urushi lacquer, dried, and polished several times to create a strong, smooth base. Decoration: Finally, we decorate the piece with metal powder. While pure gold is commonly used, we also use pure silver ("Gintsugi") and colored urushi lacquer ("Iro-urushitsugi") to match the original design. Learn more about the fascinating techniques of Kintsugi! About This Piece Arita Porcelain, Unadorned Arita ware pioneered Japanese porcelain in the early 1600s. This matcha bowl departs from Arita's famed painted traditions with a dark charcoal matte glaze over robust porcelain. The wide, organic form and undecorated surface let the clay speak for itself. Reading the Break, Honoring the Fracture No two fractures break the same way, and no two restorations follow the same path. On this bowl, Rio Hashimoto read the structure of each crack and let it guide the restoration — a process that unfolded over four months of layered urushi lacquer, with 24K gold applied across every restored seam. Her reading draws on graduate-level training in the full urushi discipline at Kyoto City University of Arts (est. 1880) and a creative practice that moves between lacquer sculpture and video installation. The gold carries the deep luster of roiro — the pinnacle of urushi finishing — a quality that only emerges from learning the craft in its entirety. Fracture as First Decoration Arita porcelain is celebrated for painted surfaces, yet this bowl crafted plain. The break gave it a pattern. Gold seams radiate from a single impact point, branching across dark matte glaze in a configuration that belongs to this vessel alone. What holds the fragments is not gold but urushi lacquer. The gold is the visible record of transformation.