Repair Week: Paper Repair, Kintsugi and Solander Box Making

Introduction to Kintsugi: 11:00-13:30 (Morning Session)

Book your place at Introduction to Kintsugi here

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer often dusted with powdered metals such as gold, silver, brass or platinum. Kintsugi is a very popular practice in Japan and can be seen to have similarities to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect. Kintsugi usually takes several months to repair a small area and decorate with gold. This workshop, led by Iku Nishikawa, is a beginner's guide to Kintsugi, and will take only a day to repair a damaged area plus a week of drying. Iku uses a few shortcuts to allow beginners to create a finished project.

Please bring a plate or bowl with a simple break that you would like to repair, and a plastic or cardboard box with a lid that can hold the object while it sets for a week. Iku is happy to safely break your ceramic object if you have a specific item that you would like to try out. 

Anything cup-shaped, or plates or bowls that are broken in many different pieces will take too long to repair so are not suitable for this workshop. If you have a very special item that’s broken, bring this it along for Iku to advise on but do not use this for the masterclass itself. 

Please be aware that your plate or bowl will not be completed by 2pm and you will need to take it home and finish the last steps of the making process one week later.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need:
- a broken ceramic object with a maximum break size of 10cm (no mugs)
- a plastic or cardboard box with a lid, large enough to comfortably store your ceramic object whilst it dries

Iku is self-taught and has learned the craft through working alongside a Kintsugi master. In 2014, Iku helped to organise a series of Kinstugi events at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. After staying in touch with the master craftsman and owner of Urushi Maker from Kyoto, Japan, Iku began to learn the practice. The following year Iku was asked to assist with the delivery of Kinstugi workshops at the Pitt Rivers Museum for a Kintsugi master from Kyoto. Iku has not been to Kintsugi school, but continues to learn from a master.

Iku is running Kintsugi Oxford, providing Kinstugi repair services, materials and workshops. Find more information by following this link. 

Paper Repair Consultations with the Conservators: 11:00-13:00 

Book your consultation with The Conservators here

Book a consultation with paper conservator Ashleigh Brown, of The Conservators, who will cast her eagle-eye on your paper-based object. You can bring in any sort of paper object, from prints, drawings and photograph, to paper lampshades, parchment and paper sculptures. During your 15 minute consultation, Ashleigh will assess the condition of your item, and illuminate maintenance and care tips.

To take part in the session you will need:
- a paper-based object that you'd like assessed by a conservator (this could be a piece of parchment, photograph, print, drawing, 3D paper sculpture, paper interior objects lamps and wallpapers, and even plastic money)

Ashleigh Brown has been working as a paper conservator in the UK for nearly a decade, both for private individuals and public institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. She aims to work with a broad range of paper materials, from more traditional materials including parchment, photographs, prints and drawings, to modern 'paper' objects including 3D paper sculpture, paper interior objects (like Japanese lamps and wallpapers), and even plastic money. 

Solander Box Making Masterclass: 14:30-16:30

Book your place at Solander Box Making Masterclass here

In this masterclass, paper conservator Ashleigh Brown, from The Conservators, will be showing the group how to make a medium-sized solander box to store heritage material safely. A Solander box is a type of specialist casing, commonly used in archives to store old and precious manuscripts, maps, prints, documents, books, and other paper objects. Together with Ashleigh, you will learn how to build your most treasured paper possession its very own custom archival case, which will help keep it in tip top condition and act as preventative conservation.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you need to bring:
- a smaller-than-A4 object you'd like to store archivally!

Ashleigh Brown has been working as a paper conservator in the UK for nearly a decade, both for private individuals and public institutions on both sides of the Atlantic. She aims to work with a broad range of paper materials, from more traditional materials including parchment, photographs, prints and drawings, to modern 'paper' objects including 3D paper sculpture, paper interior objects (like Japanese lamps and wallpapers), and even plastic money. 

Introduction to Kintsugi: 14:30-17:00 (Afternoon Session)

Book your place at Introduction to Kintsugi here

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer often dusted with powdered metals such as gold, silver, brass or platinum. Kintsugi is a very popular practice in Japan and can be seen to have similarities to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect. Kintsugi usually takes several months to repair a small area and decorate with gold. This workshop, led by Iku Nishikawa, is a beginner's guide to Kintsugi, and will take only a day to repair a damaged area plus a week of drying. Iku uses a few shortcuts to allow beginners to create a finished project.

Please bring a plate or bowl with a simple break that you would like to repair, and a plastic or cardboard box with a lid that can hold the object while it sets for a week. Iku is happy to safely break your ceramic object if you have a specific item that you would like to try out. 

Anything cup-shaped, or plates or bowls that are broken in many different pieces will take too long to repair so are not suitable for this workshop. If you have a very special item that’s broken, bring this it along for Iku to advise on but do not use this for the masterclass itself. 

Please be aware that your plate or bowl will not be completed by 2pm and you will need to take it home and finish the last steps of the making process one week later.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need:
- a broken ceramic object with a maximum break size of 10cm (no mugs)
- a plastic or cardboard box with a lid, large enough to comfortably store your ceramic object whilst it dries

Iku is self-taught and has learned the craft through working alongside a Kintsugi master. In 2014, Iku helped to organise a series of Kinstugi events at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. After staying in touch with the master craftsman and owner of Urushi Maker from Kyoto, Japan, Iku began to learn the practice. The following year Iku was asked to assist with the delivery of Kinstugi workshops at the Pitt Rivers Museum for a Kintsugi master from Kyoto. Iku has not been to Kintsugi school, but continues to learn from a master.

Iku is running Kintsugi Oxford, providing Kinstugi repair services, materials and workshops. Find more information by following this link. 

Important: the Institute of Making's COVID-19 policy for Repair Week

The Institute of Making has adopted some temporary measures for our in-person events during Repair Week, to ensure the safety of their team and to help everyone attending to feel as comfortable as possible.

Negative test result required:

All event participants coming to the Institute of Making will need to show proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of the event. You can either show your test result on your NHS app, or show text message confirmation of a negative test result. Unfortunately they will not be able to give access to anyone without a negative test result.

Links: Order a free lateral flow test / Register your test result on the gov.uk website

Face coverings:

At the Institute of Making's in-person events, all participants are required to wear a face covering. If you are unable to wear a face covering, please book onto their online events instead. Their staff are happy to help you find an online event or to work with you to work out a type of face covering that will enable you to attend the in-person event. Email events@instituteofmaking.org.uk with any questions.

COVID symptoms:

If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, including a temperature, please cancel your event booking through Eventbrite and stay at home. We know it can be disappointing to miss an event, but it is important to keep everyone safe.

Do you have specific access requirements?

The Institute of Making would like to make sure that everyone can join their events and use their website as easily as possible. Please message them if you need any particular support or assistance while attending their space or using their platforms, so they can ensure those. They are also always interested in feedback to help them improve access to their activities. Contact Sara by following this link.