Kintsugi dark Blue vase with butterflies mop inlay

For this french blue vase, glazed in a shade of blue, which was accidentally broken, I decided to use an especially difficult and delicate techniques in addition to 24-carat gold kintsugi: burgautage.

The first term comes from burgau, the common name for many mother-of-pearl-producing shellfish. This is the mystery ingredient of this restoration: finely chiselled mother-of-pearl in the shape butterflies, inlaid in natural black lacquer.

This traditional Japanese technique, known as Raden, requires meticulous, patient work: it involves a great deal of sanding and polishing, to achieve a perfectly smooth finish to the touch and a mirror-polished shine. With an added difficulty in the case of this piece: the surface is curved rather than flat, making inlaying all the more complex.

The result? A 20cm-high piece that has become absolutely unique. The alliance of two ancestral techniques and a noble-looking vase.

Extra info:
The mother-of-pearl used here is particularly precious: it comes from a very specific shell, the Turbo Marmoratus, famous for its many reflections ranging from green to fuchsia pink.