Craft Clinic

Urushi Lacquerware and Pottery Clinic

Lacquerware and Pottery Clinic

Please consult with us regarding the repair and preservation of your lacquerware and pottery.
If you wish to repair your item, please bring it with you.
Consultations and estimates are free of charge, but actual repairs will incur a fee.

Repair available for the following items

Lacquerware, pottery

Date and time *Reservations required (TEL: 03-5785-1301)

Second Tuesday of each month, 1 PM–4 PM

Location

Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square

How to apply

  • 1Application (TEL: 03-5785-1301)
  • 2Visit Aoyama Square (please bring your item for repair)
  • 3Repairs
  • 4Completed notification via postcard
  • 5Retrieve your repaired item and pay

Urushi Lacquerware

Using lacquerware for over 50 years can cause its lustre to diminish, or cause chips, fade in the lacquer, discoloration or peeling. Repairs through re-application of lacquer or the suri-urushi process (applying lacquer over the damaged portion in multiple layers) will restore your piece to an even more durable state, so you can continue to enjoy it.

Example of discoloration (item created approx. 70 years ago)

Example of discoloration (item created approx. 70 years ago)

Example of peeling (item created approx. 60 years ago)

Example of peeling (item created approx. 60 years ago)

Pottery

If one of your precious pieces of pottery breaks or cracks, please do not attempt to repair it with super glue or adhesive. It should be repaired through kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer (gold, silver and platinum are also used).
Even if your piece has broken fragments that are lost, any breaks or cracks under 5mm in diameter can be repaired with kintsugi.

<Example of breakage (no fragments lost)>

<Example of breakage (no fragments lost)>

<Example of breakage (fragments lost)>

<Example of breakage (fragments lost)>

■Kimono Clinic

Do you have a kimono gathering dust in your dresser at home?

At Aoyama Square, we provide free estimates and consultation for the maintenance, re-tailoring and cleaning of your precious kimono. *Actual maintenance and re-tailoring comes with a fee.

Repair available for the following items

Kimonos

Date and time (reservations not needed)

Every Saturday 11 AM–7 PM

Location

Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square

How to apply

  • 1Application (please inform during your free consultation)
  • 2Visit Aoyama Square (please bring the kimono you plan to have repaired with you)
  • 3Repairs
  • 4Completed notification via postcard
  • 5Retrieve your repaired item and pay
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