Skip to main content

Finding Beauty in the Imperfect

By




www.oneskingslane.com
Recently, I was helping a friend of mine pack up her dishes in preparation for getting some remodeling work done. It went fine till the end of the night when a vase got broken. The vase had been her grandmother's, I think she brought it with her from Italy. This piece meant a lot to her, and she decided she wanted to try to fix it. She carefully picked up the pieces and put them all in a box to be glued together later. The pieces were a pretty good size and she thought it would go together relatively easily.  However when she went to glue it together weeks later, she noticed that she was missing a couple smaller pieces. Furthermore, some of the larger pieces, when put together, were noticeably chipped and there were gaps. There was no way this vase was going to look beautiful with just super glue. She called me, and I told her I had seen something on Pinterest that might work perfectly.
 
In Japan, broken objects are often repaired with gold. The flaw is seen as a unique piece of the objects history, which adds to its beauty. Kintsugi, also known as Kintsukuroi, is the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold silver or platinum. The work kintsugi means “golden joinery,” and Kintsukuroi means “golden repair”. The technique intentionally highlights the flaws in the piece and makes them noticeable. The broken piece, once beautiful, is made beautiful again in-spite of its imperfections. 

www.enmcreative.com
 “Not only is there no attempt to hide the damage, but the repair is literally illuminated... a kind of physical expression of the spirit of mushin....Mushin is often literally translated as “no mind,” but carries connotations of fully existing within the moment, of non-attachment, of equanimity amid changing conditions. ...The vicissitudes of existence over time, to which all humans are susceptible, could not be clearer than in the breaks, the knocks, and the shattering to which ceramic ware too is subject. This poignancy or aesthetic of existence has been known in Japan as mono no aware, a compassionate sensitivity, or perhaps identification with, [things] outside oneself.” (Christy Bartlett, Flickwerk: The Aesthetics of Mended Japanese Ceramics)

There are a couple of different types of Kintsugi:
  • Crack: This is when the resin/gold mixture is used to attach pieces back together, where no pieces are missing.
  • Piece method: when you are missing pieces so the space is filled in with the resin/gold mixture.
  • Joint call:  this is when a piece is missing and you take a piece that is about the same size and use it to fill in the empty space -- kind of a patchwork effect. This type has such great creative possibilities.


www.edensaw.com
There are also applications of this technique being used in other materials. Just imagine that you have this beautiful old wood table that is splitting. You could use the principles of Kintsugi to join the pieces back together so that the table could continue to be functional for years to come. In this table (see picture), you can see the technique applied. With this type of repair, usually a bow-tie shape is used to join the pieces; but in this one, the artist got creative and made the joinery pieces into birds. The effect is breathtaking.  It not only fixes the flaw, but also adds an aesthetic element which adds depth and interest to the piece. 

If you would like to learn how to fix your own broken pieces using Kintsugi, I found a great tutorial and short video from One Kings Lane- https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/broken-ceramics-glue-kintsugi/?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=social&utm_content=7.8.2015&utm_campaign=Original_longform_blog_broken_ceramics_glue_kintsugi

As always, Happy Decorating!
















 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Make Your Rooms Feel More Spacious

By
If you're like me, I don't like to walk into a room and feel that it is closing in on me - this probably means that it is crowded with too much furniture and accessories - or just "stuff". I love an open, spacious feeling in a room - even if the room is small. Whether it is in a house, an apartment, condo or dorm, decorating small areas can be challenging. One of my "fans" has asked me to address some solutions to the crowded feeling. In response to her request, I've enumerated some decorating tips below that may help with those rooms and areas that are smaller than we'd like. Some of my suggestions are merely optical illusions which attract the eye and center it on the focal point. The end result is a room that feels larger than it is and much more spacious. One thing to remember: dark colors usually make a space feel more intimate and cozy while light shades make a room feel more open and spacious. If you want that spacious feeling, choo...
3 comments
Read more

2021 Color Forecast

By
Color Forecast This just in- Pantone’s Colors of the Year for 2021 are Ultimate Gray (17-5104) and Illuminating (13-0647). These two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to support one another.  “The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit,” Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. Another trending Pantone color for Spring/Summer is A.I. Aqua. It boasts an intense color saturation that works well in digital formats as well as fashion and design. The inspiration for this color is nature, the sparkling crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean; it is sure to make a splash in your home. But Pantone’s choice is not indicative of the oth...
Post a Comment
Read more

Outdoor Kitchen

By
Image by Pixabay Spending More Time At Home? Create An Outdoor Kitchen Without Overspending by guest blogger:  Curtis Fisher Social distancing protocols continue to leave us spending more time at home than ever before. Because of this, we're still spending as much time outside as possible, especially with warmer temps dwindling. With so much uncertainty around the pandemic, this type of lifestyle will likely spill into 2021. With that in mind, adding an outdoor kitchen to your space is a great way to enhance your time at home in a way that not only boosts your home’s value but significantly enhances your lifestyle. Getting Started Your outdoor kitchen does not have to be anything fancy. You could start with something as simple as a grill and an outdoor cabinet to keep supplies in. As you add accessories to your culinary space, make sure to look online for deals and discounts to help you squeeze every last penny out of your dollars. If you’re fairly handy, you can DIY outdoor cabine...
Post a Comment
Read more