Broken plates, bowls can be restored
Next time you drop a plate or bowl don’t be too quick to throw the pieces in the garbage,
You can reconstruct the item using kintsugi — the ancient Japanese art of restoring broken ceramic pottery. Kintsugi, which means “golden rejoining,” refers to the Zen philosophy which argues that damaged bowls, cups and pots shouldn’t be merely neglected; instead, they should continue to attract attention and respect by being repaired with great care.
The technique is said to have originated back in the 15th century. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, a Japanese shogun, had accidentally broken a beloved tea bowl and sent it off to China to have it repaired. When it was returned to him — pieced together with metal staples — Yoshimitsu demanded that his Japanese craftsmen seek an alternative repair method.
The end result? Kintsugi, which uses lacquer dusted with gold or other metals to fix broken, chipped or cracked dishes.
Traditional kintsugi uses urushi lacquer, from the sap of a Chinese lacquer tree. But you can recreate the kintsugi look: Use clear epoxy to reattach a fragmented piece, hold it in place with modelling clay and let it harden for at least an hour. Once completely dry, remove the clay and scrape away any excess with a razor blade. Then, using a fine-point paintbrush, apply liquid gilding over the repaired seam.