Kintsugi - Traditional Japanese Method Of Repairing With Gold

Ilkka Veiström studies traditional Japanese kintsugi, the repair of ceramics with gold and silver, and offers related services.

In spring 2023, Veiström established an open communal study group called Kintsugi Suomi - Kintsukuroi Finland, which focuses on further studying the kintsugi method and tradition and promoting awareness in Finland. The Kintsugi Suomi - Kintsukuroi Finland study group meets in Helsinki and Tampere.

Kintsugi (kintsukoroi) is an ancient Japanese "repair" method for broken objects, where the shattered parts of the object are reassembled using Japanese lacquer (urushi) made from the sap of lacquer trees (Rhus vernicifera), along with gold or silver. The underlying idea behind kintsugi is that the beauty or value of an object does not diminish when it breaks, and in fact, a mended object using the kintsugi method has even greater value. Veiström is drawn to how this core concept of kintsugi can be applied directly to society, individuals, and life in general. Kintsugi has much to offer in terms of consumption, sustainable development, addressing environmental issues and conflicts, and strengthening mental well-being.

Kintsugi has interested Veiström for a long time. While operating Teekauppa Veiström, a tea shop and tearoom called "Teehuone Ko, for nine years, Veiström brought a lot of authentic Japanese tea ceramics to Finland. Often, some of the items would break during transportation and were discarded as waste. At the same time, as part of his studies of the Japanese tea tradition (Chadō, "tea ceremony"), Veiström had accumulated a significant amount of tea utensils, dōgu. Due to his Western perfectionist nature, Veiström used to feel distressed by the broken dishes and utensils, which quickly moved out of his personal collection.

Learning kintsugi has been a life-changing, enlightening, and growth-inducing experience for Veiström. Objects that were previously seen as broken are now something completely different. Veiström now expresses great shame for his ignorance in discarding dozens and dozens of treasures, whose stories he now sees in an entirely different light than before. At the same time, he is excited about this new lifelong path of learning, which is directly connected to Japanese tea and ceramic-making.

Kintsugi repair services can be found at Veiström's Pillo Ceramics® ceramic service (www.pillo.fi)

For more information about kintsugi and the activities of the Kintsugi Suomi - Kintsukuroi Finland study group, you can visit the website maintained by Veiström at www.kintsugi.fi.