Please provide us with the following information when submitting an inquiry, and someone from the Trefler’s team will help you determine the next steps.

Please describe your item(s) in as much detail as possible. Information such as dimensions, what materials the item is made of (i.e. wood, plaster, porcelain), and your item’s current condition are all very helpful for our experts to make an accurate estimate.

We suggest providing at least three .jpg images per item. These should include; one image of the entire object, and detailed views of the area(s) of damage and/or pieces. 

If you are submitting an inquiry for painting restoration, please provide an additional photograph of the back of the canvas.

Our team will review all inquiries and assess the best course of action to suit your needs.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 


Little Histories

Mending and the Art of Kintsugi

Most of the treatments executed in Trefler’s decorative arts department are carried out with one particular ambition in mind; to create a flawless repair that will disguise evidence left behind from accidents. 

Chips, cracks, breaks, nicks; each of these types of damage are meticulously treated and concealed, giving the illusion that a teacup never lost its handle, and a vase never suffered its fateful fall off the fireplace mantel. 

Broken urns, cracked english porcelain and smashed “World’s best Mom” mugs all emerge from the worktables of the studio intact and structurally sound; often amazing our clients who had no idea their piece could be so beautifully repaired. 

Bowl, Korea, Joseon period, beginning of 17th century. Courtesy of Freer | Sackler, Smithsonian.

And while our specialists take immense pride in their ability to virtually erase all signs of damage that an object has suffered, there is another, very different approach to repair that is sometimes requested by our clients; it’s called kintsugi. 

Kintsugi or kintsukori is a traditional Japanese technique that at its core aims to celebrate, highlight, and derive value in the process of mending broken, decorative art objects. 

The Japanese characters that make up the word for kintsugi, literally translate to golden, repair or succession, and skill, and the technique essentially does just that. 

Instead of camouflaging breaks, the art of kintsugi employs the use of precious metals like liquid gold or silver leaf as the binding agent that mends breaks. It also creates a visually stunning result. This approach not only highlights the damage left behind, but it also adds value to an object because of the inherent cost of precious materials that the technique calls for. 

The art of kinstugi relays an important message; not all scars need to be concealed. With the right approach, skill, and precious materials; mending something that’s suffered damage can yield a result that is infinitely more beautiful, unique and valuable than what was there before. 

If you are interested in learning more about Trefler’s Decorative Arts Department specialties, visit our services pages by clicking the button below. 

 

 

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