Kintsugi, Maki-e & Urushi Classes | Paris — Japan
From Kintsugi to the Art of Urushi.
At Fleurir Kintsugi, we introduce the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer, guiding beginners carefully through each step, starting with the fundamentals.
In our beginner course, students learn the essential techniques of kintsugi, from handling urushi lacquer and using traditional tools to repairing broken or chipped ceramics, sanding, and applying the final finish.
At Fleurir Kintsugi, however, the journey does not end with learning kintsugi.
For those who wish to develop their skills further and explore the world of urushi lacquer in greater depth, we offer advanced courses.
In our advanced courses, students can explore more sophisticated kintsugi techniques, as well as maki-e (gold and silver powder decoration), raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), and the creation of artistic works using urushi lacquer, expanding their knowledge of traditional Japanese lacquer art.
For more specialized training, we also provide opportunities to receive direct instruction from Kyoto-based lacquer artists who have formally studied lacquer art at university, as well as skilled lacquer artisans with over 20 years of professional experience.
Whether you wish to discover kintsugi as a hobby or pursue a deeper mastery of traditional Japanese lacquer techniques, our lessons are designed to support your journey.
From Kintsugi to the Art of Urushi.
Learn authentic Japanese traditional techniques while gradually developing your skills at your own pace.
This is the philosophy behind Fleurir Kintsugi’s lessons.
FleurirKintsugi Classes
From beginner to advanced levels, you can choose the lessons that best suit your interests and goals.If you’re unsure which course is right for you, please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to help you find the best option.
Kintsugi Workshop Using Natural Urushi Lacquer and Brass Powder for the Final Finish Only
This small-group, one-time workshop is designed for beginners who would like to experience kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics.
Please bring your own broken ceramic piece.
Curious about kintsugi? Why not give it a try?
Unlike simplified kintsugi methods that use only conventional adhesives, our workshop uses genuine natural urushi lacquer for the final finish.
During this two-hour workshop, you will have the opportunity to work with urushi lacquer and experience the beauty of traditional Japanese kintsugi.
For those who wish to explore this art further, we also offer Traditional Kintsugi Classes, where you can learn the complete repair process using natural urushi lacquer.
- Suitable for: Kintsugi beginners
- Price: €75 (including tax and materials)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Minimum participants: 3
- Locations: Ashiya, Kyoto & Paris
Learn Traditional Kintsugi with Natural Urushi Lacquer and Gold Powder from a Long-Established Japanese Supplier.
Go Beyond Repair — Master the Art of Choosing Your Own Finish.
This comprehensive course teaches traditional Japanese kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer, a technique that has been passed down through generations in Japan. Students learn the fundamentals step by step.
For those who wish, we offer an optional final assessment of their completed work, available for an additional fee, conducted by Japanese lacquer artisans and specialists who have formally studied lacquer art at university and continue to work as professional lacquer artists.
As there is no national qualification for kintsugi in Japan, opportunities to have one’s technical skills objectively evaluated are limited. At Fleurir Kintsugi, we provide an opportunity for students to assess the skills they have developed through an evaluation of their work by experienced professionals. Students who meet the assessment criteria will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Traditional Kintsugi Course.
Traditional kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer requires sufficient drying and curing time between each stage. As a result, completing a single piece typically takes two months or longer.
At Fleurir Kintsugi, students can schedule their lessons according to the progress of their own work, allowing each stage to develop at the natural pace of urushi lacquer.
By repairing an actual ceramic piece, students gradually acquire the essential techniques of kintsugi, including repairing cracks and chips, bonding with urushi lacquer, rebuilding missing areas with sabi-urushi (urushi-based filling compound), sanding and refining surfaces, applying finishing layers, and sprinkling metal powders.
Kintsugi uses a variety of metal powders, each requiring different handling methods, finishing techniques, and levels of skill.
At the beginner level, students first learn the fundamental techniques of applying metal powder using brass powder. They then progress step by step to pure silver powder, 24K gold keshifun (fine gold powder), and finally marufun (rounded metal powder), which requires more advanced techniques. Throughout this progression, students learn the characteristics of each powder and the appropriate methods for working with it.
At Fleurir Kintsugi, our goal is not simply to create a gold-colored finish, but to help students master the traditional finishing techniques appropriate to each type of metal powder.
The course is also suitable for those working with natural urushi lacquer for the first time. We provide careful instruction in the fundamentals, including how to use traditional tools, understand the properties of urushi lacquer, and recognize when it has dried and cured sufficiently.
Rather than focusing solely on repairing ceramics, Fleurir Kintsugi emphasizes developing the practical skills needed to carry out traditional kintsugi independently, progressing from beginner to advanced techniques at each student’s own pace.
For students who wish to practise at home, we also provide assistance with purchasing the tools and materials needed for kintsugi during the first lesson.
Lesson Fees (Tax Included)
Choose the lesson format that best suits your needs.
- Basic materials, including urushi lacquer, tonoko powder, sandpaper, and brass powder, are provided by the instructor (within normal usage quantities).
- Gold, silver, and other metal powders for finishing can be purchased during the lesson, depending on the type and quantity required.
- Students are responsible for providing all their own materials and tools.
- Students are responsible for providing all their own materials and tools (guidance will be provided upon enrollment).
- The enrollment fee includes guidance on selecting tools and purchasing materials before the first lesson, as well as preparation of a personalized curriculum based on your skill level.
- If you plan to take an extended break, such as during a holiday, please notify us at least one month in advance.
- Locations
- Ashiya · Kyoto · Paris · Online
- Level
- Beginners welcome
- Languages
- Lessons are conducted in Japanese and basic French. Interpretation can be arranged upon request (Japanese, French, English, and Chinese). Fees vary depending on the language. Please contact us for details.
You can also combine online and in-person lessons.
For those living overseas or far from our teaching locations, it is possible to combine online and in-person lessons, learning the fundamental techniques online while attending in-person sessions when convenient.
As traditional kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer requires time for drying and curing between each stage, we can discuss the most suitable lesson format and schedule according to the progress of your work.
Course Curriculum
※The following steps are intended as a general guide to the course content. One step does not necessarily correspond to one lesson.
Depending on the condition of your piece and its progress, several steps may be covered in a single lesson. The total number of lessons required will vary depending on the piece being repaired and your progress in mastering the techniques.
Learn about the properties of natural urushi lacquer, how to handle it, the drying and curing process, and safe handling practices.
Learn how to repair fine cracks and the fundamental techniques of using natural urushi lacquer for restoration.
Learn how to rebuild chipped or missing areas using sabi-urushi (a traditional urushi-based filling compound) and other materials, then refine their shape through careful sanding.
Learn the traditional restoration process for broken ceramics, from bonding the pieces together and reinforcing the repair to sanding and refining the surface.
Learn finishing techniques using e-urushi lacquer, including the different types of e-urushi, how to prepare it, and techniques for creating beautiful, fine lines.
Learn the basic techniques of applying brass powder and creating a finished surface. Although brass powder is inexpensive, it is not suitable for tableware, as exposure to water can cause staining and discoloration. You will also learn about the different properties of metal powders and how they affect the finished piece.
Learn traditional finishing techniques using genuine silver and 24K gold keshifun (fine metal powder).
We use authentic metal powders sourced from a long-established Japanese supplier with over 100 years of history.
Learn advanced restoration and finishing techniques using marufun (rounded metal powder), one of the most time-consuming and technically demanding methods in traditional kintsugi.
We use authentic silver and gold powders sourced from a long-established Japanese supplier with over 100 years of history.
Upon completing this course, students may progress to the Advanced Kintsugi Course.
For those who wish, an optional final assessment of their work by a Kyoto-based urushi lacquer artisan is available. Students who successfully pass the assessment will receive a Certificate of Course Completion.
For those who wish to deepen their knowledge and skills beyond kintsugi, we offer advanced lessons that open the door to the world of traditional Japanese lacquer art using natural urushi lacquer.
In addition to advanced kintsugi restoration techniques, students can explore maki-e (decorative lacquer art), raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), and the creation of original lacquer artworks, developing specialized skills according to their individual interests and goals.
Our advanced lessons also offer opportunities to learn from Kyoto-based lacquer artists who have formally studied lacquer art at university, as well as skilled artisans with over 20 years of hands-on experience working with urushi lacquer.
Beyond the art of repairing ceramics lies the rich world of Japanese lacquer art.
One of the distinctive features of Fleurir Kintsugi is the opportunity to begin as a complete beginner and progressively develop your skills, eventually learning not only kintsugi but also maki-e, raden, and the creation of lacquer artworks from experienced artisans and lacquer artists based in Kyoto, Japan — a historic centre of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
- Suitable for: Graduates of the Traditional Kintsugi Course and those with prior experience working with urushi lacquer
- Course Content: Maki-e / Raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) / Negoro-nuri / Tame-nuri / Kawari-nuri (decorative lacquer finishes) / Lacquer art and the creation of original artworks using urushi
- Fees: Vary depending on the lesson content and instructor
- Instructors: Lacquer artists, traditional urushi artisans, and other specialists
- Format: Small-group and private lessons
- Locations: Ashiya, Kyoto, Paris & Online
Flexible Lesson Options
・In-person lessons: Kyoto / Ashiya (regularly available) · Paris (held occasionally)
Online Lessons ※Please prepare the recommended materials in advance, as advised.
・One-Time Online Consultation — €30 per session：This service is also available to those who are not enrolled in Fleurir Kintsugi lessons but would like advice on their kintsugi projects at home.Please note that some questions may require an examination of the actual piece before we can provide an answer.
※Languages: Japanese / English / French / Chinese
※Interpretation services are available upon request as an optional service.
※Please feel free to contact us for further details.