Kintsugi in Boston

Before you send your piece

• If your item is extremely thin, or in many fragments, please contact me first — some pieces need to be assessed before I can quote them.

• If your item has been previously glued, please tell me. Old adhesive has to be removed before urushi will bond, and I will include that work in the quote.

What to expect from the finish

• The finish changes with use. Metal powders soften and warm; silver darkens gently over the years. This is the material behaving as it should, not a fault.

• On crazed ceramics and porcelain (fine cracks in the glaze), urushi can seep into the crazing and darken it.

• On unglazed or matte surfaces, metal powder settles into the pores and cannot be fully removed.

Pieces I can restore in form, but not in function

• Vessels exposed to sustained high heat (donabe, earthenware pots) and vessels in constant contact with water (vases, planters) can be made whole again, but should be kept as decorative pieces afterwards.

Care for all traditional repairs

• Hand wash only. No microwave. No dishwasher. No direct heat.

Food-safe restoration for pieces that go back into daily life

Repaired entirely with traditional urushi (Japanese wooden lacquer), layer by layer, with the drying time the material requires. Best for objects that return to daily life — held, used, and cared for.

Finishes

• 24K gold, silver, tin, urushi: Food-safe

• Bronze, brass: Safe for everyday use. Please avoid leaving acidic foods — citrus, vinegar, tomato — in prolonged contact with the repaired line.

Hand wash only. No microwave. No dishwasher. No direct heat.

Estimated pricing

• Small chip
  Urushi / Tin / Brass / Bronze: $155 – $185
  Silver: $170 – $195
  Gold$: 190 – $220

• Hairline crack
  Urushi / Tin / Brass / Bronze: $165 – $220
  Silver: $185 – $240
  Gold: $205 – $275

• Multiple breaks
  Urushi / Tin / Brass / Bronze: Silver: $200 – $400+
  Gold: $230 – $450+
  $250 – $500+

Pricing depends on the size of the damage and the condition of the body. Unglazed, crazed, raku, and glass pieces carry a small surcharge. A firm quote follows a photo or in-person review.

Turnaround
2–5 months. Urushi cures slowly, and rushing it produces a weaker repair.

Decorative restoration for pieces that live on a shelf

Repaired with synthetic materials and finished with brass, tin, copper, or alternative metal powder.
Not suitable for food or liquid contact. No microwave. No dishwasher.
Best for objects kept for display, memory, or the pleasure of looking at them.

Estimated pricing

• Small chip: $120 – $140

• Hairline crack: $130 – $165

• Multiple breaks: $160 – $280+

Turnaround
1–3 months.

1. Inquiry & Estimate
   Please send details and photos of your broken piece through our contact form or email. Include several photos of the whole piece, showing the inside, outside, and any cracks. This will help us give a more accurate estimate.

2. Final Estimate & Deposit

   If you accept the estimate, we will evaluate your piece when we receive it and email you the final repair cost and payment form.
   The 40% deposit is required through links in the email before we begin the repair. If you decide not to go ahead, we will return your item. The customer is responsible for return shipping fees.

3. Repair Process

   After payment is confirmed, we will start the repair.

4. Completion & Return

   Your repaired item will be sent back to you or can be picked up in Boston.
   You are responsible for round-trip shipping costs.
   
   For drop-off / pick-up, please schedule it beforehand.

   　Schedule drop-off