What’s KINTSUGI ?

金継ぎKINTSUGI  (金繕いKIN-TSUKUROI)is a restoration technique in which cracks and chips in a ceramic are joined and filled with 漆Urushi and finished by sprinkling gold powder on them.

金KIN＝gold   TSUGI=repairing, mending

The technique is called 銀継ぎGin-tsugi if silver powder is used instead of gold powder, and 漆継ぎUrushi-tsugi if coloured Urushi lacquer is used for finish.

Restoration using Urushi can be found as far back as the Jomon period(~10th century BC). Earthenware excavated from archaeological sites has been lacquered or restored using Urushi as an adhesive.

In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the rise of Urushi craft techniques such as 蒔絵maki-e and the spread of the tea ceremony spirit, which accepted even scars as part of the ceramic's character, led to the discovery of the artistic value of Kintsugi ceramics.

Today, kintsugi is attracting attention not only in Japan but also internationally.

Kintsugi uses Urushi, which is the sap of the "Urushi lacquer tree", as well as natural materials such as rice and wheat flour, grindstones and wooden powder. Therefore, ceramics restored by kintsugi, Gin-tsugi, Urushi-tsugi can be used safe again for eating and drinking. I believe that the real appeal and beauty of kintsugi is that it not only restores the shape and makes it look more glamorous, but also restores the original purpose of the ceramics by using Urushi and making it usable again in everyday life.

There are also repairs and expressions that are possible only with lacquer.

It is important in kintsugi to repair ceramics with respect for their makers, owners and the vessels themselves. I always try to repair the ceramic so that the repaired part will fit in with the ceramic and become a new harmony and scenery, while valuing the ceramic's original good qualities and attachment to it. To achieve this, it is essential to use a variety of Urushi craft techniques and to express the ceramic in a way that is appropriate to its expression.

Even the cracks, chips and other scars, which would normally be faults, are enjoyed and savoured as part of the ceramic's character. They can then be used again in daily life.

Through Kintsugi, I want people to feel the richness and splendour of using precious objects with care for a long time beyond the passage of time.

What's URUSHI?

• Urushi is the sap collected from the bark of the lacquer tree.
• Urushi is a versatile material that can be used as paint and adhesives.
• Since Urushi is NOT synthetic, and is a natural resin paint, ceramics repaired by Kintsugi can be used for eating and drinking.
• Urushi resistant to heat, moisture, acid and alkaline. It is also suitable for tableware due to its anti-rotting and insect-proof effects.

Aiko Zushi

漆で直すということ

金継ぎ（金繕い）は、器の割れや欠けを漆で繋ぎ埋め、金粉を蒔いて仕上げる修復技法です。
金粉の代わりに銀粉を使い仕上げたものは「銀継ぎ」、色漆を使って仕上げたものは「漆継ぎ（漆繕い）」といいます。
漆を使った修復は、古くは縄文時代から見られます。遺跡から発掘された土器には、漆による塗りが施されたものや、漆を接着剤として修復がなされた器があります。
室町時代になると、蒔絵など漆を使用する工芸技術の高まりと、傷跡さえもその器の個性として受け入れるという茶道精神の拡がりが、漆によって修復された器に芸術的価値を見出すこととなりました。
そして現在、金継ぎは日本のみならず世界で注目されています。

 
金継ぎでは、「漆の木」の樹液である漆、そして米粉や麦粉、砥の粉や木の粉など、すべて自然のものを材料として使います。そのため、金継ぎで修復された器は、再び飲食に使用することができます。私は、ただ形だけ直して煌びやかに見せるだけでなく、漆を使って直すことで、器本来の用途を取り戻し、また日常で使えることが、金継ぎの醍醐味であり美しさであると考えます。

また、漆だからこそできる修繕・表現があります。
器の作り手、持ち主、そしてその器自体への敬意を持って繕うことが、金継ぎを行う上で重要なことです。器本来のよさや愛着を大切に、繕ったところがその器に馴染み新たな調和・景色となるように繕うことを常に心がけています。そのためには、多彩な漆工芸の技法を駆使し、器の表情に適した表現をすることが不可欠なのです。

本来であれば欠点であるはずのひびや欠け、割れ跡などの傷でさえも、器の個性として楽しみ味わう。そして、日々の生活の中でもう一度使っていく。
金継ぎを通して、大切なものを、時間を越えて長く大切に使っていくことの豊かさと素晴らしさを感じてほしいと思います。

圖子愛子