The Art of Gintsugi with Kira Smith
In this beginner's gintsugi workshop, you'll have the opportunity to experience the captivating art of mending broken ceramics with silver. Discover this ancient Japanese technique, which beautifully repairs pottery while enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Gintsugi is the silver counterpart to kintsugi, the traditional art of repairing ceramics with gold.
In this workshop, you will:
Learn the principles of the Japanese art of Gintsugi, the silver counterpart to kintsugi
Discover the philosophy of wabi-sabi, embracing imperfection and finding beauty in repaired objects
Learn how to carefully reassemble and prepare broken ceramics for repair
Use genuine silver and specialist tools to create your own decorative ceramic piece
Work with salvaged ceramics from London studios, giving new life to discarded objects
Take home your finished gintsugi creation along with the knowledge to continue exploring the craft
Please note: The repair method used in this workshop is for decorative purposes only and is not food safe.
What to expect
Small group, limited to 8 people
Studio-based, hands-on and supportive
No experience needed
Time to experiment with a range of techniques
A glimpse inside the house during the lunch break for inspiration
Light lunch from Norfolk Street Bakery
About Kira Smith
Kira Smith is a London-based artist and lacquer craftsperson specialising in the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi: the repair of broken ceramics using urushi lacquer and precious metals. Trained in Japan, her practice treats repair as a radical act of care, honouring an object's history rather than concealing its damage. Through her work, Kira invites a reconsideration of value, longevity and craftsmanship in a culture shaped by disposability.
