NON-FUNCTIONAL SCULPTURE meant to be displayed only. It is not safe for eating and drinking from, and it is not meant to be handled. It is meant to sit on a shelf for display only. Materials: stoneware clay, glazes, hot glue, 24 karat gold. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, signed by Joel Cherrico. CAUTION: it has sharp textures and it is extremely fragile compared to other Cherrico Pottery. The mug was cracked apart, then reassembled.

It is not in danger of falling apart, because the glue joints are very strong. I used hot glue, which is surprisingly strong on ceramic. But, what you need be careful with is the exterior gold surface. There is no sealant over the gold, in order to maintain natural color and texture. It is 24 karat gold, so it does not tarnish over time from ambient display. But, oils in your hands, or marks from your fingers or fingernails, could scratch or mar the surface. So, this mug is meant for display only, and to be handled only occasionally, very carefully. When dusty, you can clean this mug extremely gently with a very soft microfiber cloth or gently with a feather duster. Do not wash. It also has some tiny, gold flakes that might come off on your hands, which is excess from being stuck to the glaze during the repair process. This is natural and normal.

A note on "kintsugi" or "kinstukuroi" meaning "gold repair" in Japanese. This refers to the ancient art of repairing pottery that has been broken, by using gold in the broken parts. It is traditionally done with tree sap from a Urushi tree, native to Japan. The sap is harvested from living trees, then processed into lacquer, then mixed with stone and powered gold. Traditional Japanese kinstugi repair can take up to three months on a single pot.

My technique is not kinstugi. I am creating a sculpture, not a functional mug. But, I'm inspired by the message it represents: to transform something broken into something beautiful.

My version of this "kinstukuroi" idea is rough, quick and unrefined. I work with extreme speed. I use hot glue and 24 karat gold leaf. I complete the project quickly, in one day, on purpose. It is meant to reflect a short moment in time, and an immediate freshness of one particular day when I broke it, then repaired it. When I set the mug down, immediately after repair, it is done. I rarely go back and make touch ups. Even if it seems sloppy or some spots are not covered, and show the cracks or sharp spots, I don't make changes. I let the art be the embodiment of that moment when it was cracked, repaired, and enshrined forever as a new, finished art. 

CAUTION: some spots may be rough or sharp. Handle with extreme care.

This mug was from my daily, "SMASHING a Moon Mug everyday" on my 5 social medias:

@cherricopottery on YouTube
@cherricopottery on TikTok
@cherricopottery on X
@cherricopottery on Instagram
@cherricopottery on Facebook