In Japan, broken objects are often repaired with gold — an art form known as Kintsugi. The artist will mend the areas of breakage with a liquid mixed with gold, silver or platinum, creating a design from the breakage.
The breaks in the pottery are seen as a unique part of its history, adding to its beauty. Rather than trying to hide these flaws, the art form embraces them. Every imperfection contributes to the strength and character of the pottery — their highlighted scars add value.
From this art form concept, there’s a message we can all benefit from — a metaphor of sorts. In the process of repairing what has been broken, we can create something stronger, add to its existing character and beauty. Something that is broken isn’t something that should be thrown away. Those chips are, in fact, an opportunity.
source: https://medium.com/
"While kintsugi's origins aren't entirely clear, historians believe that it dates back to the late 15th century. According to legend, the craft commenced when Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa sent a cracked chawan—or tea bowl—back to China to undergo repairs. Upon its return, Yoshimasa was displeased to find that it had been mended with unsightly metal staples. This motivated contemporary craftsmen to find an alternative, aesthetically pleasing method of repair, and kintsugi was born.
By the 17th century, kintsugi has become common practice in Japan. According to Louise Cort (the curator of ceramics at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery), it was during this time that a Japanese warrior infamously purchased, broke, and repaired standard tea bowls in order to make a profit.“That seems to indicate that, by the beginning of the 17th century, kintsugi was a commonly used technique for repairing—and at the same time, ornamenting—ceramics for tea,” Cort explains.
In addition to serving as an aesthetic principle, kintsugi has long represented prevalent philosophical ideas. Namely, the practice is related to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which calls for seeing beauty in the flawed or imperfect. The repair method was also born from the Japanese feeling of mottainai, which expresses regret when something is wasted, as well as mushin, the acceptance of change."
(right: Kintsugi repairs are visible on the edges of this sake cup that is over 700 years old)
(left: 10th century, wheel made stoneware with celadon glaze with impressed design and lacquer repair)
(right: Tea bowl, White Satsuma ware, Japan, Edo period, 17th century. Courtesy of Freer|Sackler, Smithsonian.)
(left: Bowl, Korea, Joseon period, beginning of 17th century. Courtesy of Freer/Sackler, Smithsonian.)
