The Art of Precious Scars

In most cultures, broken objects are less valuable than new objects. Japanese cultures are different, especially in pottery. Thanks to the ancient art of Kintsugi, a broken piece of pottery that was mended together with gold can be valued dozens of times more than the original item.

Kintsugi, which translates to "golden joinery" in Japanese, is believed to have originated in the late 15th century when the Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a damaged Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs. After it was returned and repaired with unsightly metal staples, Japanese craftsmen may have been prompted to seek a more aesthetic means of repair. Legend says that collectors even began deliberately smashing valuable pottery so that it could be repaired with the gold seams characteristic of kintsugi.

The process of kintsugi may seem simple at first glance: mix lacquer with a binding agent such as rice or flour, and use it to reassemble broken ceramic pieces. The final step is to highlight the repair line with a metal accent. However, achieving perfection in this art form is quite challenging, as several problems can arise at each stage. For instance, the lacquer mixture must have the right consistency, or it won't hold the pieces securely.

More than just an art, Kintsugi is a philosophy that treats breakage and repair as part of an object's history rather than something to disguise. In a way, it makes the object more humane, where flaws can also be seen as what makes it special and unique, making it a very interesting art form.

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