The Unknown Master of Restoration

A random video showed up in my YouTube suggestions, and I got immediately sucked in. I’m not quite sure how to describe this, but it’s almost like a action movie, in documentary form.

There are some moments where I found myself exclaiming in disbelief, watching what was happening. Really old pottery pieces, and the stakes seem incredibly high. I promise you, a few minutes into this doc and you won’t be able to pull away.

The video focuses on the restoration of two pieces: a Celadon Phoenix Flower Vase (from the 12th/13th Century), and a Totoya Chawan Tea Bowl (16th Century).

As the restoration process begins, I found myself in awe that they were removing the repair. And actively breaking down the pieces so that they could be put back together again. A favorite line from this moment:

This documentary is chock full of incredible sentences that I tend to find in nonfiction essays or poems. So many incredible quotes to be had.

The documentary focuses on Mayuyama Koji, who has a nickname of “The God Hand” for his restoration prowess. But we also learn that his son, Mayuyama Yu, has also been studying under his father and has been restoring work for over a decade.

Later on in the film, we learn that Koji learned his trade by studying under his father, making this an even more generational occupation.

Unfortunately, I’m not able to embed the video. So you’ll have to watch it on YouTube. But make sure to set some time aside, as I think you’re going to be here a while

An interesting notion: I know of Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer/gold. There’s a philosophical approach with Kintsugi that accentuates the brokenness, that accepts and highlights a flaw as a feature.

Here’s a bit of video on the approach:

What’s interesting – the Mayuyama family work with an approach called Tomonaoshi, attempting to fix objects so that they appear new. I found it interesting that there was a desire to remove the Kintsugi applications, to try for a more holistic repair.

I find this kind of thing just incredibly fascinating. It’s amazing to watch someone who is highly skilled at work. Just to kick back and watch them do their thing.

Related:
Fixing the Basement Perimeter and Cracks
Video of a Japanese Woodworker Creating Kokeshi Dolls
Artist Michelle Erickson Recreates an 18th-Century Puzzle Jug