Pottery made to order | repair and restoration studio in Southern Delaware

How to Make Japanese Kintsugi Art with Gold?


Lakeside Pottery Kintsugi Gallery Intragram
#Kintsugigallery


Where to purchase Kintsugi supplies - Traditional and Modern

How Our Kintsugi Process is Done


This lesson shows only the highlights of the processes and is not a DIY lesson


How Is Kintsugi Implemented In Our Studio? Real Gold and Gold Effect Processes

We implement the Japanese art of Kintsugi using one of these two methods:

A) 23.5 Karat gold with lacquer, or

B) Our proprietary developed process with Gold Effect metals that is almost indistinguishable from real gold at a cost of less than 1/2 of the real gold process.


About half of our Kintsugi work is with 23.5 Karat gold and the other half uses our proprietary Gold Effect process made with a blend of brass, copper and zinc.

* We do not sell our Kintsugi materials


The difference between Real Gold Kintsugi and Gold Effect
23.5 Karat Gold

The difference between Real Gold Kintsugi and Gold Effect
Gold Effect



Our Choices of Metals:

23.5K gold powder
23.5K Gold
gold effect powder - kintsugi
Gold Effect
silver effect powder - kintsugi
Silver Effect
Copper powder - kintsugi
Copper
bronze powder - kintsugi
Bronze


Kintsugi Art Technique Additional Options:

In addition to the straight gold line along the repair areas, there are other styles of gold repair. If the broken piece is missing a section, it can be repaired with a technique known as makienaoshi. This is where gold replaces the lost section and is decorated with the texture or design complementing the pattern of the item. Another related gold repair is called yobitsugi where ceramic parts from a different and unrelated vessel are glued into the broken or missing area of the restored piece.

Kintsugi Makienaoshi style repair wabi-sabi
Kintsugi Makienaoshi style
Kintsugi Yobitsugi style repair using gemstone pendant
Kintsugi Yobitsugi repair using agate gemstone
Kintsugi using silver color - learn kintsugi
Kintsugi - silver

Kintsugi Gold Repair Process Instructions

This tutorial demonstrates the main steps of our Kintsugi process. The presentation is intended to provide only a general idea of Lakeside Pottery's two proprietary Kintsugi methods and is not a precise instruction for a DIY

Breaking vessels require some practice to insure the break is just right with aesthetically pleasing shapes
Broken pottery can happen due to an accident or can be broken on purpose.


Breaking a Vessel Example
The breaking methods we use are different depending on the vessel type and structure. The variables are - is it a bowl, a vase, a plate, porcelain, stoneware or earthenware? Wall thickness, uniformity and vessel size also determine the impact point, force and tool. The goal is to have a controlled break so that the break pattern meets your vision and the customer's budget. Breaking it in stages enables the granularity needed to execute the pattern. Of course it does not always work the way you wished. Always wear goggles!!

Cement broken pieces using two part 5-minutes epoxy
Cement broken pieces using two part 5-minute epoxy Learn more details in the cementing "How to" lesson and instructions

Mix epoxy well with a pin tool, paper clip or a wooden stick.
Mix epoxy well with a pin tool, paper clip or a wooden stick - where to get this epoxy.
Apply epoxy mix to one side using a pintool
Apply epoxy mix to one side using a pintool or a wooden stick. Use only enough adhesive to cover the edge. Too little will leave gaps, resulting in weak repair


Place broken piece over the epoxy.
Place the broken pieces together. Important: You have only about 60-90 seconds from start of epoxy mixing to complete the broken piece's permanent placement before the epoxy becomes gummy and not workable

Quickly join the pieces together while applying light pressure to squeeze extra epoxy out.
Quickly join the pieces together while applying light pressure to squeeze extra epoxy out.
Verify that pieces can stay steady during the cure
Verify that pieces can stay steady during the curing period (let it cure at 75 degrees F or warmer). Let the epoxy cure for 60 or more minutes before removing excess cured epoxy with a blade


Scrape off excess epoxy and wipe all surfaces
Scrape off excess epoxy and wipe all surfaces with 91% alcohol to remove dust and hand oils prior to applying filler epoxy

Mix even parts of PC-11 epoxy filler
Mix even parts of PC-11 epoxy filler (where to get). For ease of application, work in room temperature greater than 70 degrees F.

Apply thin layer of filler while pushing in to fill cracks and missing fragments
Apply thin layer of filler while pushing in to fill cracks and missing fragments

Saturate rag with 91% alcohol
Saturate rag with 91% alcohol
Use the rag and alcohol and rub off the PC-11 filler epoxy from surfaces
Use the rag and alcohol and rub off the PC-11 filler epoxy from surfaces. Be careful not to remove too much PC-11, especially from the gaps.


Allow filler epoxy to cure for 12 hours or more at a temperature of 7
Allow filler epoxy to cure for 12 hours or more at a temperature of 75 degrees F or warmer. Or, wait 2-3 days when the temperature is cooler

Real Gold Over Lacquer

A few years ago, we stopped using the ancient method of mending and filling with urushi (a tree sap) and found that the shown process yields more durable results with greater customer satisfaction. Where to get gold fine powder

Kintsugi metals - real gold and metal alloyed creating a realistic and durable gold effect
Kintsugi metals - real fine gold and proprietary metal alloy creating a realistic and durable gold effect

Lacquer to be used with the real gold traditional Kintsugi application
Proprietary lacquer to be used with the real gold traditional Kintsugi application

Apply lacquer with thin brush over the repair line in the desired thickness
Apply lacquer with thin brush over the repair line in the desired thickness

Apply lacquer with thin brush over the repair line in the desired thickness
Allow the lacquer to stabilize so it will not smear but still tacky before applying the gold powder

Place bowl over folder paper to collect the excess gold powder
Place bowl over folder paper to collect the excess gold powder

Use very soft brush to apply the gold powder over the lacquer
Use very soft brush to apply the gold fine powder over the lacquer. Where to get gold powder and soft brushes

Wait until the lacquer hardness and brush off excess gold powder
Wait until the lacquer hardness a bit more and brush off excess gold powder

Wait until the lacquer hardness and brush off excess gold powder
Pour the fallen off gold powder in to the container


Gold lines ready for burnishing
Gold lines ready for burnishing

Use soft cotton cloth to burnish the gold applied over the lacquer
Use soft cotton cloth to burnish the gold applied over the lacquer


Real 23.5 Karat gold Kintsugi examples - More
Real 23.5 karat gold Kintsugi examples
Real 23.5 karat gold Kintsugi examples


This same process (23.5K gold) was used for a project made for the White House as a Presidential gift to the Prime Minister of Japan. See a 30 seconds video below.

Kintsugi vase was created for President Biden (article)This Kintsugi vase was created for President Biden as a presidential gift to the PM of Japan
See video




Gold Effect Kintsugi
Proprietary process

Encapsulating two part non-yellowing epoxy
Encapsulating two part non-yellowing proprietary epoxy

Place even amount of epoxy on a pad
Place even amount of epoxy on a pad

Apply about 35% metal alloy (consists of brass, copper and zinc)
Apply the gold substitute metal alloy powder (proprietary, custom made for us - consists of brass, copper and zinc - not for sell by us)

Mix well
Mix gold effect metals well

Use a sharp tool to carry the gold effect
Use a sharp tool to carry the gold effect

Apply the desired width and thickness over the repair lines
Apply the desired width and thickness over the repair lines in a continuous fashion

Allow to cure before handling
Allow to cure before handling

Kintsugi bowl ready for shipment
Kintsugi bowl ready for shipment


IMPORTANT: Kintsugi repair materials are not intended to be used with liquid or heat over 180 degree F. Repaired items should not be used on cooking or food serving ware to avoid premature failure or food contamination.

Gold Effect Example - More examples
Gold Effect Kintsugi examples

Gold Effect Kintsugi examples



Broken Cup With Missing a Large Handle Segment Restored Using 23.5K Gold Kintsugi

This tutorial is focused on making a handle using clay without the need to fire it in a kiln


Kintsugi Process Timelapse Video



Kintsugi Heart Vase With Gemstones Process







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