ESSENTIAL MATERIALS FOR THE KINTSUGI
KI URUSHI
Ki urushi lacquer is a variant of raw lacquer used in the various stages of kintsugi and serves as a base for mixtures with other materials in the preparation of mugi urushi, nori urushi, or fuki urushi. It can also be mixed with tonoko earth or jinoko to create a mixture called sabi urushi, used in crack-filling work.
IRRITATING PRODUCTS
Ki urushi lacquer is a natural lacquer (containing no toxic chemical additives) composed of approximately 30% water and 60% urushiol, the active ingredient responsible for skin reactions in some people. It is important to handle ki urushi lacquer with care to avoid allergic reactions: this means wearing gloves, protective sleeves, and a mask, in a well-ventilated workspace.
BENGARA URUSHI
Bengara urushi lacquer (e urushi) is more sophisticated than basic ki urushi lacquer. Its color comes from its main ingredient, iron oxide, the color of which varies depending on the fineness of the pigments, ranging from light to dark.
It is on this layer of fresh lacquer that the metallic powder (for example gold) is then deposited to obtain the decorative effect characteristic of kintsugi.
KURO URUSHI
In the Kintsugi process, black kuro urushi lacquer is used as an intermediate layer. Once the sabi urushi mixture is dry and carefully sanded, the kuro urushi lacquer is applied over this rough layer (a minimum of two coats). After each application, the surface must be sanded to achieve a smooth finish. Kuro urushi gives the repaired piece an elegant and uniform appearance.
TONOKO
The red tonoko abrasive powder from Yamashina Kyoto, located on Mount Inari, is an essential component in the sabi urushi filling and covering technique. This primer is composed of red tonoko, water, and ki urushi lacquer. It creates a kind of buffer for the support's movements and allows for optimal bonding with intermediate lacquer layers such as kuro roiro urushi lacquer.
