{"product_id":"24k-gold-kintsugi-arita-matcha-bowl-dark-current","title":"24K Gold Kintsugi Arita Matcha Bowl | Dark Current","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"container\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.5em; letter-spacing: 0.08em; color: #000; margin-bottom: 6px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3;\"\u003eDiscover the Japanese Art of Kintsugi\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 40px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKintsugi, derived from the Japanese words \"kin\" (gold) and \"tsugi\" (to mend), is the ancient art of restoring broken pottery with natural \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eUrushi \u003c\/em\u003elacquer\u003c\/strong\u003e and enhancing it with powdered metals such as pure gold.\u003cbr\u003eThough often recognized abroad simply as “golden joinery,” kintsugi is in fact one expression within Japan’s broader tradition of \u003cem\u003eurushi\u003c\/em\u003e lacquer arts. \u003cbr\u003eMore than restoration, it is rooted in wabi-sabi—embracing imperfection, resilience, and renewal, while honoring the vessel’s history.\u003cbr\u003eTo truly understand this art, one must first look to its foundation: \u003cem\u003eurushi\u003c\/em\u003e lacquer, a natural and sustainable material remarkable for its strength and versatility. For centuries, this living medium has been used to create Japan’s distinctive artistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.15em; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin: 36px 0 6px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eWhy Urushi Is the Heart of Kintsugi?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 30px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin-bottom: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUrushi lacquer is a natural, sustainable material derived from \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Urushi lacquer for kintsugi, extracted from lacquer trees\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0510\/1803\/9485\/files\/Urushi_kaki.jpg?v=1686554147\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethe sap of the lacquer tree\u003c\/a\u003e. It has been used for centuries in kintsugi due to its remarkable properties:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrong Adhesion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ensures durable restoration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Protects against leaks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChemical Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Resists acids, alkalis, salts, and alcohols.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThermal Insulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shields against heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAntiseptic Properties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Naturally resists bacteria and fungi.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrong Film Formation:\u003c\/strong\u003e As the urushi lacquer dries, it forms a strong film that makes the restored piece resilient and durable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese versatile properties make urushi lacquer perfect for kintsugi, creating strong, beautiful and durable restorations that honor the history of the original piece and become cherished heirlooms. In addition, urushi lacquer is a sustainable material that is naturally sourced and promotes eco-friendly craftsmanship that respects both tradition and the environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.15em; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin: 36px 0 6px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eThe Kintsugi Process (4-5 Months)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 30px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin-bottom: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eApplication:\u003c\/strong\u003e We carefully restore cracks, chips, or broken pieces with urushi lacquer, sometimes mixing with other natural materials for extra strength, depending on the damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLayering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Restored areas are coated with several layers of urushi lacquer, dried, and polished several times to create a strong, smooth base.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecoration:\u003c\/strong\u003e Finally, we decorate the piece with metal powder. While pure gold is commonly used, we also use pure silver (\"Gintsugi\") and colored urushi lacquer (\"Iro-urushitsugi\") to match the original design.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(46, 4, 253);\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: rgb(46, 4, 253);\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Discover Authentic Kintsugi Techniques\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0510\/1803\/9485\/files\/Authentic-Kintsugi-techniques.pdf?v=1718441210\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLearn more about the fascinating techniques of Kintsugi!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.15em; letter-spacing: 0.12em; color: #000; margin: 36px 0 4px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 40px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\"font-size: 1em; color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin: 0 0 6px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eArita Porcelain, Unadorned\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eArita ware pioneered Japanese porcelain in the early 1600s. This matcha bowl departs from Arita's famed painted traditions with a dark charcoal matte glaze over robust porcelain. The wide, organic form and undecorated surface let the clay speak for itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\"font-size: 1em; color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin: 0 0 6px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eReading the Break, Honoring the Fracture\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eNo two fractures break the same way, and no two restorations follow the same path. On this bowl, Rio Hashimoto read the structure of each crack and let it guide the restoration — a process that unfolded over four months of layered urushi lacquer, with 24K gold applied across every restored seam. Her reading draws on graduate-level training in the full urushi discipline at Kyoto City University of Arts (est. 1880) and a creative practice that moves between lacquer sculpture and video installation. The gold carries the deep luster of roiro — the pinnacle of urushi finishing — a quality that only emerges from learning the craft in its entirety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch4 style=\"font-size: 1em; color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin: 0 0 6px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eFracture as First Decoration\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eArita porcelain is celebrated for painted surfaces, yet this bowl crafted plain. The break gave it a pattern. Gold seams radiate from a single impact point, branching across dark matte glaze in a configuration that belongs to this vessel alone. What holds the fragments is not gold but urushi lacquer. The gold is the visible record of transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46520990433469,"sku":"AT0155","price":2428.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0510\/1803\/9485\/files\/matcha-bowl-authentic-kintsugi-arita-24k-gold-food-safe-front-view-sold-out-at0155.png?v=1774851069","url":"https:\/\/kintsugilabo.com\/en-au\/products\/24k-gold-kintsugi-arita-matcha-bowl-dark-current","provider":"The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}