Kintsugi - repair of broken pottery

Julia is an intern at WAUW design, and in addition to being good at details and things that take time, she is curious and creative. Where there are trades that are spilled, but where others may see broken products, Julia sees an opportunity to learn new things and test a new version of the Japanese repair technique "Kintsugi".

What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi can be translated as "gold repair", as it is precisely a repair technique where cut or broken ceramics are patched together with a kind of gold glue (originally cooked on hare ...) and gold dust. In this way you can always see that the ceramic has been broken, but also that it is held and patched together, and thus can continue to be used. This is part of the Japanese philosophy Wabi Sabi, which is precisely about celebrating the imperfect. 

Julia likes this philosophy as she is generally really fond of recycling and sustainability. If something can be repaired or recycled, she would much rather than buy new, and we love that thought very much at WAUW design. Sustainable-vases becomes produced from porcelain scraps and test glazes to minimize the waste of materials. 

In 2020, we have become a dealer of New Kintsugi set from Dutch Humade, which has made a simpler version of the repair technique. Real Kintsugi takes 3-4 weeks to make, while this can be done in a few hours + a few days of drying. 

Can ceramics patched with New Kintsugi withstand microwave and dishwasher? 

No. Once the ceramic has been repaired with New Kintsugi, it should not be put in the microwave or dishwasher as it cannot withstand being heated to over 100 degrees Celsius. If it gets hotter than this, there is a risk that the repair material will melt.

If you repair WAUW design products with New Kintsugi, you must therefore be aware that they can no longer withstand being put in the microwave or dishwasher. If you want to wash the repaired product, you should use a soft brush / sponge. 

In the repair kit you will find all the remedies you need to patch your ceramics. There is also a thorough instruction manual (in English), and with pictures of the process. 

A little about Julia's internship

In addition to testing New Kintsugi, Julia has also learned various casting techniques through her internship, and has, among other things. participated in the production of Crystal vases and a lot decorations - including new variants of Easter decoration. She has also been involved in mixing glazes and has developed her own Crystal glaze.