Non Western Blog - Kintsugi: A Japanese Form of Art

 Kintsugi: A Japanese Form of Art

    Kintsugi is a form of artwork from Japan that involves repairing broken pottery with gold. It was created during the Mudomachi period (1336-1573) and is still used today. I chose to focus my blog on this artwork form because of its symbolism. The symbolism behind Kintsugi, "join with gold", is to teach us that life is beautiful even if we have been broken and repaired. 

    Furuta Oribe is credited with introducing lacquer-repaired pottery to the tea room. Pictured below is Iga-yaki mizusashi, a water jar he commissioned for tea ceremonies. When the piece cracked during firing, Oribe chose not to discard it. Instead, he had the cracks repaired with lacquer—an early form of kintsugi. This piece and the cracks in it preserve the passage of time, honoring wear and imperfection.


"Yabure-bukuro" by Furuta Oribe (n.d.) - Japan
   
     Identifying specific artists who create Kintsugi artwork can be challenging, as many practitioners prefer to remain anonymous. They view Kintsugi not just as an artistic expression but as a meaningful method of repair. For instance, the picture of a repaired teapot below shows a gold spout and handle. One might assume that the intention was not only to restore the teapot's functionality but also to enhance its aesthetic appearance. 

"Goryeo wine ewer with gold lacquer" -  Japanese collector (early 20th century)

    Kintsugi is still practiced today, exemplified by the artist Tomomu Kamoshita. Based in her Tokyo studio, she brings a modern twist to this traditional art form by mixing brassanese urushi lacquer. Rather than focusing solely on restoring broken ceramics, Kamoshita incorporates unconventional materials like sea glass to create entirely original pieces. Her work goes beyond merely preserving the history of damaged pottery; it gives the pieces a renewed identity. 


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Repaired ceramic plate by Tomomu Kamoshita n.d - Tokyo

Works Cited 

Tea, Tezumi. “Kintsugi - History and Introduction.” Tezumi, Tezumi, 22 May 2023, www.tezumi.com/blogs/tezumi-insights/kintsugi-history-and-introduction?srsltid=AfmBOop0zoI53jGUHwWxuebiladcYQJmWiBYe6VHVvtQoKQpEu8cjfsk. 

“Tomomi Kamoshita.” IFAM Artist Stories, ifamstories.org/artists/tomomi-kamoshita-2/. 

Witek, Dominic. “The Kintsugi, or the Japanese Art of Mending Ceramics with Gold.” Artsper Magazine, 1 July 2022, blog.artsper.com/en/lifestyle/the-kintsugi-or-the-japanese-art-of-mending-ceramics-with-gold/. 

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