Unique Kintsugi Tea bowl Small Dog

Ref. UN0004

$399.00 USD

Collected

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One of a Kind

Food Safe

Certified Authentic

Product Description

<About Kintsugi Part>
In this piece, Mr. Suginaka did not just apply kintsugi, but also painted Japanese wisteria flowers in maki-e to match the colors of the original vessel. It takes a high level of skill to draw small patterns and pictures with a fine brush.

Japanese wisteria flowers have been used to decorate luxurious scenes in Japan for a thousand years.
As a flower of nobility and dignity, it is also depicted in the famous animation "Demon slayer" as a flower that keeps demons away.

With the addition of Japanese wisteria flowers, a vessel to be discarded has been upcycled into a magnificent kintsugi art work.

<About the original vessel>
Kyo ware is a representative art  from Kyoto. Also known as Kiyomizu ware, it is one of Japan's most representative wares.

Dogs attached to the rim of a vessel are called "komainu".
In Japan, they are placed at the gates of shrines and serve as guardians to keep evil spirits away.

The "Shochikubai" drawn on the vessels represent the pine, bamboo, and plum plants, respectively.
The pine tree does not wither in winter, the bamboo tree is hard to break, and the plum tree blooms ahead of other plants even in cold weather, all of which have a congratulatory image in Japan.

The artisan draws the pattern of chrysanthemum and plum flowers one by one with a brush. Since a number of artisans are involved in the process of completing the work, no two patterns are alike. This makes the piece a valuable work of art.
However, chips and cracks occurred in the final stage of the original ware production, and it had no choice but to throw it away as it was.

<Thoughts behind the piece>
It was created with the hope that you will be able to enrich your mindfulness time with this beautiful kintsugi piece.
This is a masterpiece that makes you feel the coming of spring.
You can also feel the beauty of imperfection from the Kintsugi.

You can have a coffee and tea while feeling the season.
Of course, it is also recommended for drinking a cup of sake.
Why don't you spend a wonderful time with one-of-a-kind Kintsugi ware?

All materials we use are natural and do not have any risks of toxicity.

The piece comes with a Paulownia box, including care advises, a mini thanks gift, and a certificate of origin and quality.

 

Product Details

Size
 Ø123 H50mm / 220ml
Weight 
160g
Material 
Vessel: Porcelain
Kintsugi & Maki-e portion: 24K gold, natural Japanese lacquer
Production Days 1 month
Kintsugi Artist 
Nobuyasu Suginaka, Shiga JAPAN
Producer of vessel 
T.NISHIKAWA & CO., INC., Kyoto JAPAN
Usage  Tableware (food-safe)

About vessel:

  • Type:
  • Origin:

Materials used:

Production time (in months):

Care & Food Safety

    • After use, wash the pieces using a soft sponge and foodsafe detergent.
    • Rinse them in lukewarm or cool water and completely dry them using a soft dish cloth.
    • Do not soak them in hot or cold water for long periods of time. This may cause the urushi or maki-e lacquer to peel or fracture.
    • The urushi (Japanese lacquer) may break or the maki-e lacquer decoration may peel off if the piece is dropped or if it collides with other hard objects. Please handle these pieces carefully.
    • Do not place these pieces in the microwave or dishwasher.

Safe for Everyday Use:
Restored with natural, non-toxic materials, our Kintsugi piece is safe for everyday use - no worries about leaks or harmful chemicals.

📦 Inside the Box

A traditional paulownia wood box (except for some flatware), with a Store Card, Care Instructions, and Certificate of Authenticity & Quality.

📱 See our packing on Instagram — @kintsugilabo

🚚 Worldwide Delivery
  • Ships in 2–3 business days via DHL Express (international, tracked) or Japan Post (domestic). Estimated transit to USA, UK, Canada, and Australia: 1–2 weeks, subject to local customs.
  • We ship to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, Brazil, Spain, and Japan. Contact us for other destinations.
  • DHL does not deliver to PO Boxes.
  • View 2026 Japan Shipping Holidays →

🛃 Duties & Taxes (DAP)

Our prices do not include import duties or taxes — these are set by your country's customs and are the buyer's responsibility. DHL will email you a secure payment link before delivery; once paid, your order is cleared and delivered.

  • 🇺🇸 U.S. customers: a 10% import duty applies (effective February 24, 2026, subject to U.S. policy).
  • 🎁 Gift orders: Duty notifications go to you (the buyer), not the recipient. If unpaid by the deadline, DHL may contact the recipient directly.
  • ⚠️ Unpaid duties may delay delivery or return the package; return shipping may be deducted from refunds.

Full Shipping & Customs Policy→

Gift-Ready Presentation
Paulownia Wood Box
Traditional paulownia wood gift box hand-stamped with The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN seal, made in Japan
Hand-stamped paulownia wood box, crafted in Japan — gift-ready.
Gift Message Card
Complimentary luxury gift message card enclosed with each kintsugi piece, front and reverse design
Add a personal note at checkout — enclosed inside the gift box.
Include a Printed Gift Message Card?

Enter a message for your gift card (optional).

🛃 Shipping at a Glance

  • Shipped worldwide from Japan via DHL Express— shipping is complimentary.
  • All prices exclude duties & taxes.
  • U.S. Orders — Approximately 10% duty (subject to U.S. policy), billed by DHL before delivery.
  • American Express
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$399.00 USD

Beyond Kintsugi Restoration

Where Kintsugi Becomes Urushi Art

Kintsugi is not defined by gold alone. While most pieces are finished with gold, silver, or colored urushi lacquer,
this piece takes it a step further by combining kintsugi with a traditional urushi decorative technique, resulting in a one-of-a-kind work of art.

The Urushi Decoration Technique Applied:

Urushi-e (漆絵) — Lacquer Painting

Urushi itself becomes paint. Natural pigments are mixed into transparent lacquer to create colored urushi. Then, it is applied freehand with fine brushes to build images through brushwork alone. This is one of the oldest decorative methods in the lacquer tradition.

The Craft Behind the Beauty

Understanding the Art of Kintsugi

Urushi artist applying 24K gold powder by hand to the kintsugi seam of a sometsuke (blue-and-white) porcelain piece — The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN

Kintsugi (金継ぎ) — from kin (gold) and tsugi (to mend) — is the Japanese art of restoring broken pottery with natural urushi lacquer, adorned with powdered gold, silver, or colored urushi.

Though it's often called "golden joinery" in the West, the visible gold is only the finish — every kintsugi restoration is, fundamentally, an urushi lacquer technique. In Japan, kintsugi is understood as one expression within a broader tradition of urushi arts spanning thousands of years.

Rooted in wabi-sabi, it embraces imperfection and renewal — honoring a vessel's history rather than concealing it.

Read the full story on our Essence page

Urushi (漆) is natural sap harvested from the lacquer tree, used in Japanese craft for over 5,500 years. In kintsugi, urushi is the actual material that mends, fills, and seals every fracture — the gold or silver powder is decoration applied over it.

As urushi cures, it forms a remarkably strong film with properties no synthetic adhesive can replicate:

  • Strong adhesion — ensures durable restoration
  • Water resistance — protects against leaks
  • Chemical resistance — withstands acids, alkalis, salts, and alcohols
  • Thermal insulation — shields against heat
  • Natural antiseptic — resists bacteria and fungi

These qualities make every urushi-restored piece food-safe, leak-proof, and suited for daily use — not only display. As a renewable, biodegradable material, urushi also reflects the sustainable spirit of traditional Japanese craft.

Authentic kintsugi takes 4–5 months per piece, never shortened by synthetic substitutes. The process unfolds in three stages:

  1. Mending — Cracks, chips, or fractures are filled with urushi lacquer, blended with other natural materials when extra strength is needed.
  2. Layering — Restored areas are coated, dried, and polished across multiple cycles to build a smooth, durable base.
  3. Finishing — Metal powder is applied: pure gold most often, sometimes silver (gintsugi) or colored urushi (iro-urushitsugi), chosen to honor the original vessel.

Learn more about the kintsugi techniques

Kintsugi Is More Than Gold

Kintsugi is not defined by gold alone. The essence of the craft lies in the restoration process using natural urushi lacquer. Gold, silver, and colored urushi lacquers are simply different traditional finishes, each chosen to complement the vessel's character. All are authentic expressions of kintsugi.

Finish on This Piece:

Three kintsugi finishes — gold (kintsugi), silver (gintsugi), and colored urushi (iro-urushitsugi)
Style Finishing Material Aesthetic & Philosophy
Kintsugi
金継ぎ
Pure 24K gold powder The classic finish — warm, luxurious, and rooted in history.
Gintsugi
銀継ぎ
Fine silver powder A cooler, contemporary register — serene and modern in feel.
Iro-Urushitsugi
色漆継ぎ
Colored urushi An expressive choice — vivid pigment harmonizing with the vessel's character.
Certificate of Authenticity for an authentic Kintsugi artwork, printed on traditional Japanese washi paper with our original artisan seal, certifying handcrafted urushi lacquer restoration made in Japan.

Verified Authentic

A Certificate of Authenticity with Every Piece

Every kintsugi piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity & Quality — verifying its Japanese origin, natural urushi materials, and traditional craftsmanship.

Printed on Japanese washi paper (a craft refined over 1,300 years) and stamped with our original brand seal, the certificate is itself a small work of Japanese art.

Cherish it alongside your one-of-a-kind piece.

What Our Collectors Say

Verified Kintsugi Reviews from Around the World

Thoughtfully Crafted with Sustainability in Every step

The Philosophy Behind Our Kintsugi

Traditional Craftsmanship

Restored with authentic urushi methods and natural materials, completely free from synthetic additives.

Thoughtful Sourcing

Each piece begins as a genuinely broken Japanese ceramic sourced from our trusted partners.

Premium Packaging

Elegantly protected in a sustainable paulownia box and delivered with carbon-neutral transit.