{"product_id":"24k-gold-kintsugi-hagi-ware-cup-cradled-warmth","title":"24K Gold Kintsugi Hagi Ware Cup | Cradled Warmth","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\" name=\"viewport\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n    body {\n        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n        line-height: 1.6;\n        margin: 20px;\n        color: #000;\n    }\n    .container {\n        max-width: 800px;\n        margin: 0 auto;\n    }\n    .figure {\n        text-align: center;\n        margin: 20px 0;\n    }\n    .figure img {\n        max-width: 100%;\n        height: auto;\n    }\n    table {\n        width: 100%;\n        border-collapse: collapse;\n        margin: 20px 0;\n    }\n    table, th, td {\n        border: 1px solid #000;\n        color: #000;\n    }\n    th, td {\n        padding: 10px;\n        text-align: left;\n    }\n    th {\n        background-color: #f0f0f0;\n        color: #000;\n    }\n    @media screen and (max-width: 768px) {\n        .container {\n            padding: 10px;\n        }\n        table {\n            display: block;\n            overflow-x: auto;\n            white-space: nowrap;\n        }\n        th, td {\n            font-size: 14px;\n        }\n    }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"container\"\u003e\n\u003cp 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\/p\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\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\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\u003cp 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\/p\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\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\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\u003cp 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\/p\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\u003cp style=\"font-size: 1.15em; letter-spacing: 0.12em; color: #000; margin: 36px 0 4px 0; font-weight: bold;\"\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 40px; height: 1px; background-color: rgb(178, 137, 91); margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: rgb(178, 137, 91);\"\u003eSecond Only to Raku in Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eIn the hierarchy of Japanese tea ceremony wares, Hagi ranks second only to Raku—a status earned by its soft, cream-colored clay, its crackled glaze, and the way it evolves with use over years. This cup features a kiriko-dai cut foot, a detail prized by tea practitioners and collectors as a mark of Hagi’s distinctive craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: rgb(178, 137, 91);\"\u003eA Painter’s Sensitivity in Lacquer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eLacquer artist Maki Mizuno trained at the urushi department of Kyoto City University of Arts (est. 1880), where she studied the complete lacquer discipline from woodworking through final gold application. Grounded in this formal discipline and her approach of bringing watercolor sensibilities into lacquer work, she refined this cup over four months of layered urushi work, reuniting the fragments and finishing the seams in 24K gold. The application carries a painter’s awareness of weight and line — the kind of sensitivity that only emerges from learning the craft in its entirety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: rgb(178, 137, 91);\"\u003eHagi’s Seven Transformations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0; color: #333; line-height: 1.7;\"\u003eHagi ware is celebrated for nanabake—the “seven transformations” that occur as tea gradually penetrates the crackled glaze over years of use, deepening and shifting the clay’s color. This cup will not remain as it appears today. The surface will evolve, the tones will mature, and the relationship between the original glaze, the gold seams, and the aging clay will continue to change for as long as the cup is used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46379309269181,"sku":"AT0151","price":450.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0510\/1803\/9485\/files\/sold-out-cup-authentic-kintsugi-hagi-ware-24k-gold-urushi-crackle-glaze-at0151.png?v=1773731616","url":"https:\/\/kintsugilabo.com\/en-ch\/products\/24k-gold-kintsugi-hagi-ware-cup-cradled-warmth","provider":"The Kintsugi Labo JAPAN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}