Traditional Kintsugi Repairs
Be it a family heirloom or a favorite cup, Kintsugi restores ceramics to a usable or decorative state by honoring the time and history the piece has lived through.
What is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form dating back to the 15th century, used to repair broken pottery by ‘joining with gold’. Rather than hiding the cracks, kintsugi highlights them with gold, reflecting the wabi-sabi philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection.
Unlike epoxy repairs, traditional kintsugi uses natural materials, which keeps the items food-safe. Even if a portion is missing, kintsugi can rebuild the lost part until the piece is usable again. It is a long process that requires attention to small details and specific storage environments to cure properly, but it is worth the effort.
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The most cost-efficient finishing option, where the cracks/chips are left visible in painted red or black urushi.
Price: $10 per centimeter.
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Colors such as cream, blue, yellow, green, etc. are used for the finishing layer, allowing for a vibrant contrast to the design.
Price: $12 per centimeter.
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An alternative to gold, bronze can be used for more decorative pieces or on ceramic parts that will have zero contact with food or your mouth. (Bottom of cups, bowls, etc.) Note: Bronze will oxidize, resulting in color variation over time.
Price: $15 per centimeter.
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Pure silver is dusted on for the final finish, providing a cooler contrast than gold.
Price: $20 per centimeter.
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Pure gold powder prepared specifically for kintsugi to achieve a traditional finish.
Price: $25 per centimeter.
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Item description
Examples of Current Projects
Want to see how the Kintsugi process is done? Follow me on YouTube or join my Ko-Fi at: https://ko-fi.com/hesheleontess
How Commisions WorkOnce confirmed and $50 toward the final commission fee is paid, I will provide a shipping label to send the piece in for repairs. Please pack the item carefully, as additional breakage will require more repairs and, therefore, a higher fee.
(If you have a piece that requires further breaking, and you have asked me to do so, please note that I cannot control how a piece will break.)
The length of repair time depends on the extent of damage and can take up to a few months to complete. Pictures showing the current status of repairs will be sent upon request.
Once complete, I will take a final measurement (in cm) to determine the final cost of repairs, along with shipping and handling fees based on the shipping service of our choice. Once the fee is paid, I'll send the item back for you to enjoy and treasure to your heart’s content!
Items repaired by Kintsugi must be HANDWASHED only and handled appropriately to prevent damage to the repaired portions and further breakage.
All shipping and handling fees are the client's responsibility. Any S&H fees incurred by the artist will be included in the final bill of services. The artist will not be held responsible for any damage that may occur during transport. Please notify Hèshé immediately if damage occurred during transportation after repairs are completed, as you may be eligible for discounted services to correct it.