A captivating time-lapse video documenting the authentic Kintsugi journey. Watch as a master artisan meticulously transforms a fractured vessel into a unique work of art, reborn with luminous lines of silver and colored urushi lacquer.
Experience the artistry of Kintsugi: Rotating video showcasing a unique, repaired pottery piece.

Silver and Vermillion Kintsugi Arita Ware Plate | Maple Leaf Shape

Ref. AT0115

CHF 415.00

Collected

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Complimentary Worldwide Shipping

One-of-a-kind

Food Safe

Certified Authentic

Restored by Nobuyasu Suginaka

Hand-restored in Japan with traditional kintsugi techniques using natural urushi lacquer.

See more works by Nobuyasu Suginaka →

Maple Leaf in Arita Porcelain

Shaped like a Japanese maple leaf, this plate comes from Arita—the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, where the craft has continued since the early 1600s. The leaf form is precise, its edges crisp, its white body characteristic of Arita’s refined firing tradition.

Shaped by Arita’s Legacy: This piece also comes from Arita ware, Japan’s first porcelain tradition. Prized for its luminous white body and refined hand-painted details, embodying the harmony of precision and quiet beauty.
Learn more → Discover the Art and Craftsmanship of Arita Ware Porcelain

Silver Front, Vermilion Reverse

Master artisan Nobuyasu Suginaka applied two distinct finishes: Iro-urushitsugi in vivid vermilion on the front, and Gintsugi with pure silver on the reverse. Each side required its own sequence of urushi layering and curing. The contrast—warm red against cool silver—was a deliberate artistic choice, not merely a technical one.

A Plate with Two Faces

Turn this plate over and it becomes a different object. The vermilion side carries the energy of lacquer’s warmest pigment; the silver side offers quiet restraint. In urushi tradition, this kind of dual expression demonstrates the material’s range—the same natural lacquer producing radically different moods depending on the artisan’s intent.

About vessel:

  • Type: Porcelain
  • Origin: Arita ware

Materials used:

  • Pure silver powder
  • Natural urushi lacquer
  • Vermilion lacquer

Production time (in months): 4

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.
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🛃 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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  • JCB
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CHF 415.00

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: Gintsugi and Iro-Urushitsugi

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.