Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Enjoy 10% off

On your first order with us and get early access to new collections and more.
How to Care for Kintsugi-repaired Wares

How to Care for Kintsugi-repaired Wares

Considering the nature of urushi lacquer, the kintsugi-repair process usually takes anywhere from two to three months, and for extremely complex breakages can take up to one year. Each layer of urushi must harden before the next layer is applied. And there are many many layers: from binding broken pieces together, to filling microscopic crevasses, to sealing and smoothing until uneven surfaces become completely level and glossy. Only once the ware has been fully repaired with urushi, can 24K gold be applied. In kintsugi, we enjoy the journey that comes with both quiet patience and focused awareness.

 

 

Once the kintsugi-repair is complete, we mustn't let that hard work go to waste.

 

THE 6 GOLDEN "AFTER CARE" RULES

① Age for one month Please place the ware in an enclosed environment to avoid accidental bump-ins, as well as exposure to direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting. Following the 1 month aging phase, your ware is ready to be used. 

 

 

② Do not use over direct heat While kintsugi-repair is possible for stone, iron, and all other earthenware, it can no longer be used over direct heat.  

③ Not microwave, oven, dishwasher safe Even if the ware was microwave, oven, nor dishwasher-safe before, it is no longer. The metal finish and the urushi lacquer are best kept away from modern appliances. 

④ Do not bleach, boil, scrub Do not bleach, boil, or scrub with a hard brush or harsh cleaning agent to maintain the integrity of the metallic finish. 

⑤ Do not soak in water Avoid soaking in water for long periods of time as this can loosen urushi that hasn't fully settled into its own. Cups and bowls can absolutely be used for liquid food and drink. We simply suggest that they are not soaked in the sink or used as a vase should the kintsugi-repair be located in an area of the vase that will be filled with water.

⑥ Do not scrape Be quite careful when using cutlery around kintsugi lines as the metallic finish may scrape off. 

While it is useful to keep these key points in mind, like beloved stuffed animals, tableware is meant to be used. So we believe that enjoying these wares at your table is by far the most important point. We hope the kintsugi lines celebrate the unique story of your ware and that it was worth the wait. 

 

Stories

Every piece of japan comes with a story

The Longer Path: Crafting Ceramics Through a Collaborative Process

The Longer Path: Crafting Ceramics Through a Collaborative Process

POJ Studio collaborated with Okuda-san of Oogoya for over a year to get the Shigaraki Collection just right. Mutual respect and creative partnership allowed both teams to translate the tradition of...

Read more
Bringing Stonework of Japanese Gardens Inside Modern Homes

Bringing Stonework of Japanese Gardens Inside Modern Homes

As part of the team carrying on seven generations of legacy stonework at Nishimura Tōrō-Ten, Ishiura Kenji set out to bring stone craftsmanship beyond the garden and into the modern home.

Read more
Kazuto Yoshikawa, Reawakening Dormant Techniques

Kazuto Yoshikawa, Reawakening Dormant Techniques

Kazuto Yoshikawa guided a collaboration to revive the traditional wood-bending techniques of a Mie Prefecture multi-generational frame workshop, resulting in a striking interior design element for ...

Read more
The Weight of 400 Years

The Weight of 400 Years

Carrying on the legacy of 16 generations of potters, Hosai Matsubayashi is the human embodiment of the evolution of tea culture in Japan. Find out through this documentary how he pursues Kireisabi ...

Read more
Hiromichi Nakade, Maker of Oryoki Bowls

Hiromichi Nakade, Maker of Oryoki Bowls

Meet Hiromichi Nakade and Kazuya Fujimoto, the makers of the Oryoki and Kodaiwan bowls. A master craftsman sits with his former apprentice to speak about their hope for the declining crafts industr...

Read more