Kintsugi Dish

Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that involves repairing broken pottery with a lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The Taisho period (1912-1926) in Japan was a time of great cultural and artistic innovation, and it saw the emergence of a unique style of kintsugi.
What makes Taisho period kintsugi so fascinating is the way it blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern artistic sensibilities. The artists of this period were heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements in Europe, and they incorporated these styles into their kintsugi work. This resulted in a fusion of Western and Japanese elements that created a truly unique and striking art form.
Overall, Taisho period kintsugi is fascinating because it represents a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, and it showcases the incredible skill and creativity of Japanese artists during a time of great cultural and artistic change.
 
Glazed ceramic (Karatsu)
Kintsugi repair Taisho period, early 20th century
Edo period, 18th century
H: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.)
D: 13.2 cm (5 1/4 in.)
Wooden box
 
On mended ceramics, see: Flickwerk. The Aesthetics of Mended Japanese Ceramics, Exhibition Catalogue, Cornell University, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and Museum für Lackkunst, 2008