Traditional Kintsugi

Kintsugi (金継ぎ, gold joinery) is a 400+ year old Japanese traditional practice to repair ceramics/pottery. The traditional method uses natural materials throughout the entire process of gluing, filling and painting to create visible lines of gold in the reconstructed ceramic. These repaired pieces will be food-contact safe, waterproof and heatproof (up to temperatures typical for hot food) once the materials are fully cured.

Typically, an easy repair using traditional Kintsugi methods takes several weeks to complete. But this intensive workshop is intended to concentrate the process and distill it all into a manageable two days. Instead of completing one repair from start to finish, there will be different ceramic pieces used for participants to learn each step, make tools and color samples, interspersed with lots of instructor demonstrations.

Emi Joyce was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lived there until 2010. Her pursuits in textile education, fine jewelry career, and experimental music scenes eventually led her to settle in Portland, Oregon, where greater access to nature changed her life.

She is currently a Kintsugi ceramic restorer and natural dyer. While she worked in a variety of creative jobs, her longest career was as a bench jeweler. Her lifelong craftsmanship and  knowledge of fine motor skills moved on to repair ceramics. Instead of creating new products, she loves mending damaged, but precious objects to give them new life. You can learn more about her Kintsugi work via instagram:  @modernkintsugirepairpdx

Students are also welcome to bring broken ceramics from home, if they wish, though materials will also be provided. In order to work, any broken ceramics from home must be glazed, up to 4 broken pieces and the missing fragments must be within 1/2 inches. The original state is within 10 inches.

Bring cardboard boxes to put ceramics without touching the repaired parts. Note: the main material used in this process, urushi lacquer, is a natural resin derived from a tree in the cashew family. Other species in this plant family include poison ivy and mango, known for causing sensitization and allergies. Since this specific resin is used in all repair steps, disposable gloves must be worn while handling the raw lacquer to avoid potential allergic reactions.

Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed toe shoes. Tie long hair. Disposable heavy duty gloves are provided though limited sizes, bring fitted ones if you have.

A broken ceramic piece (bowl, plate or mug) for the day 1

A glued and cleaned ceramic piece for the day 2 

Urushi lacquer (hypo-allergy), Ki-urushi 生漆

Urushi lacquer (hypo-allergy), Bengara red 弁柄漆

Urushi lacquer (hypo-allergy), black 黒呂色

Tonoko stone powder

Wheat flour (all-purpose) 

Alternative gold powder 

Sandpaper 320, 800, 1200, 2500 

Fine art brush 

Round brush 

Tile as a palette 

Spatula 

Bamboo stick

Utility knife

Turpentine

Isopropyl alcohol

Masking tape

Cotton swabs

Toothpicks

Paper towels

Box for the kit