Large Satsuma Earthenware Vase, Japan, Meiji Era

An exceptional, large Satsuma earthenware vase decorated with samurai motifs.
The top of the neck has been restored using the kintsugi technique.
Japan, late 19th century.

Kintsugi is the art of repairing ceramics, porcelain, and earthenware while enhancing their beauty. “Kin” means “gold” and “tsugi” means “joint” in Japanese. The philosophy of kintsugi is to recognize the break and, by extension, the repair as part of the object’s history, rather than to conceal it. It takes into account the object’s past, its history, and thus any mishaps it may have experienced. When a ceramic breaks, it no longer signifies the end of its life or its disposal, but rather a renewal, the beginning of another cycle, and continuity in its use. Repairs are therefore not hidden at all but, on the contrary, are highlighted, and the use of gold gives the object real added value.