Kintsugi & Korean Objects

There is currently a swift trade in reproductions of Goryeo celadon and I am here for it. I personally own several of these objects and intend to collect more...and not for re-enactment reasons, I just like having them in my home. My current favorite piece is a replica of a lovely bamboo ewer. 

However, these are inherently delicate objects that occasionally suffer damage. In fact, this original from the 1100s has a repaired spout! When some re-enactor or collector posts their poor, cracked or otherwise damaged item on a Facebook group or some other forum, I find that we often land ourselves in trouble.

Because someone will pipe up with, "Use kintsugi to make the repair! It's a period Asian technique!"

This item was removed from a Goryeo tomb during the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula during the 20th century and was purchased by an American art broker for the Cleveland Museum of Art during that occupation.

It wasn't a nice occupation, not that they ever are. It cannot be ignored that this repair is the mark of a violent, genocidal regime.

I am not the boss of you. I cannot make you not repair your reproduction of a Goryeo celadon object with kintsugi. However, I am asking you to really think about it carefully. There are people who deserve that care and concern from you.