Chapter 1
The alchemy of raw materials
Chapter 2
The tool is an extension of the body
Chapter 3
The battle against time
Chapter 4
Embracing the crack
Ch 4 · Embracing the crack
louisvuitton Reclaimed Wood Marquetry
We slice the quiet timber paper-thin, And let a royal masterpiece begin.
louisvuitton Artisans bond broken pieces with urushi sap, clay, or flour before dusting the cured seams with gold or silver powder.
Quiz
What philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection is closely tied to the art of Kintsugi?
louisvuitton Artisans spin wool dyed with historical plant extracts to match aged carpet threads.
Quiz
What are the two primary structural threads that carpet restorers must rebuild before knotting?
Quiz
Why must carpet restorers use wool dyed with natural plant extracts instead of modern synthetic dyes?
Fun Fact
Gold value: The gold leaf used in Kintsugi is beaten so thin (about 1/10,000th of a millimeter) that a single gram can cover an entire square meter.
Quiz
Why do book conservators use Japanese kozo paper to patch tears in ancient parchment?
Glossary
kintsugi (noun)
The traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. Originating in fifteenth-century Japan, the technique historically repaired beloved tea bowls for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa.
The traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. Originating in fifteenth-century Japan, the technique historically repaired beloved tea bowls for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa.
Quiz
What is the artistic technique of inlaying pieces of colored wood veneers to create pictures?
Quiz
What is 'spalted wood,' which marquetry artists prized for adding natural shadows to their designs?