Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending with gold
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Kintsugi mends broken ceramics with lacquer and gold, so the crack becomes the decoration rather than something to hide. Traditional urushi lacquer is slow and cured layer by layer, while modern versions use glue and gold leaf in a day.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What a first class is like
West Dean College's five-day traditional course in London teaches hon-kintsugi, repairing ceramics with natural lacquer (urushi) and gold. Students clean and bond the broken pieces, fill chips with sabi-urushi, seal cracks and apply keshifun, an unpolished gold powder. It runs as five half-days, 10am to 2.30pm, to allow for the lacquer to cure.
Real urushi is slow. Joseph and Maiko Anderson-Story, who restore ceramics in Baldwin City, Kansas, told Kansas City magazine that each layer must cure at a set temperature and humidity and that their projects usually take about three months. Joseph adds that a lot of people can do a version in an afternoon with a two-part epoxy.
So check what a class uses. West Dean's one-day modern course bonds pieces with superglue, rebuilds small gaps with epoxy resin and gilds with 23.5 carat gold leaf, and the college says the mended pieces are not made safe for use as cups. Homes & Antiques notes that most kintsugi repairs are not done with real gold, and its home recipe mixes clear ceramic adhesive with mica powder. The Umbrella Arts Center says its urushi course gives food-safe repairs.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| West Dean College, London | Traditional kintsugi with urushi and gold powder; five half-days (summer school run); lacquer, gold and protective kit supplied | £555 |
| Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, London | Three days, 13 to 15 July 2026 run, 10am to 4.30pm; repair with lacquer and gold; varying levels of experience | £290 |
| West Dean College | Modern kintsugi, one day; superglue, epoxy and 23.5 carat gold leaf; five sheets of gold leaf included | Fee not shown on the course page |
| The Umbrella Arts Center, Concord, Massachusetts | Six two-hour Friday sessions (April to May 2026 run) with natural urushi; four to six students | $240, plus $145 beginner kit and shipping |
West Dean asks traditional students to bring a shoe box or similar container, ideally with bubble wrap, to carry the finished piece home. For the modern course, bring a broken ceramic that is relatively complete, or a piece to break on the day.
How to start
- Decide whether you want traditional kintsugi with natural urushi lacquer, which takes weeks or months, or a modern one-day method with glue and gold leaf.
- Book a beginners' class at a college or arts centre, and read what lacquer it uses and what it supplies.
- Find a broken glazed piece that is mostly complete, and a box with bubble wrap to carry it home.
Where to go
- West Dean College: Traditional kintsugi, five-day intensive course (London) UK
- Slade School of Fine Art, UCL: Kintsugi, In Praise of Brokenness (London) UK
- The Umbrella Arts Center: Traditional kintsugi foundation course (Concord, Massachusetts) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Is kintsugi done with real gold?
Traditionally it was urushi dusted with powdered gold, but Homes & Antiques says most kintsugi repairs today are not done with real gold. West Dean's traditional course uses gold powder from Japan, and its modern course uses 23.5 carat gold leaf.
Is kintsugi food safe?
It depends on the method. The Umbrella Arts Center says its natural urushi course gives food-safe repairs, while West Dean says pieces mended on its modern glue-and-gold-leaf course are not made safe for use as cups.
How long does kintsugi take?
Traditional urushi work takes weeks or months because each layer must cure. The Anderson-Storys say their projects usually take about three months; modern epoxy versions can be done in an afternoon.
Can urushi lacquer cause a rash?
It can. The Umbrella Arts Center says urushi can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions similar to poison ivy in some people, and West Dean advises anyone with a known lacquer allergy or very sensitive skin to check with a healthcare professional before signing up.
Where this comes from: West Dean College, Traditional Kintsugi – A Five-day Intensive Course (The Complete Process); West Dean College, Modern Kintsugi – gold leaf repair for ceramics with Richard Walker; UCL Slade School of Fine Art, F12 KINTSUGI: In Praise of Brokeness; The Umbrella Arts Center, Traditional Kintsugi: A Six-Session Foundation Course; The Umbrella Arts Center, Visit; Homes & Antiques, Kintsugi: how to do it, different methods and best kits; Kansas City magazine, Using traditional Japanese methods, a Baldwin City couple brings broken pottery back to life. Opened 11 November 2026.
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