From Japanese repair craft to modern kintsugi design

Kintsugi, literally “golden joinery”, is the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with urushi lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. Instead of hiding cracks, the repair lines are highlighted, so the vessel’s history stays visible and honoured.

Over centuries, the craft became closely linked to tea ceremony culture. A cracked bowl could be carefully repaired, the seams traced with gold, and then returned to daily use with even more value than before. The point was never to pretend the breakage had not happened; it was to acknowledge that life leaves marks, and that those marks can be beautiful.

As kintsugi travelled into global design conversations, its philosophy began to appear far beyond tea bowls. Artists, architects and designers now borrow the idea of “visible mending” for buildings, jewellery and public artworks. The essence is the same: show the repair, do not hide it, and let the mended lines tell a story.

Seletti Kintsugi: poetry in porcelain and gold

Italian designer Marcantonio took this idea and flipped it into a full tableware language for Seletti. Instead of waiting for pieces to break, he designed plates, mugs and bowls that look as if fragments have already been reunited, their seams traced in 24 kt gold. Amprio Milano’s Kintsugi collection brings this edit to Dubai and the wider UAE.

Each piece combines fine porcelain with gold-finished “joins”, sometimes mixing patterns as if shards from different plates had been patched together. The Kintsugi Dessert Plate is a clear example: part of the surface might show a delicate floral motif, while another segment feels more geometric, the border between them picked out in metallic lines.

Unlike delicate display-only china, Kintsugi is designed to be used. Porcelain gives a refined weight in the hand; the gold accents catch candlelight at dinner and still look sharp in bright Gulf daylight. The forms are practical – dessert plates, coffee cups, bowls – but the graphics invite you to see them as little artworks that cycle between shelf, table and, sometimes, wall.

Kintsugi at Dubai tables: living with mended gold

Dubai’s homes and restaurants move quickly: new apartments, new concepts, new menus. Against this pace, kintsugi offers a counterpoint – a visual reminder that the most interesting stories are rarely flawless. When you lay a Seletti Kintsugi plate on a Dubai dinner table, you are bringing that story into a very contemporary space.

In a Downtown apartment, a single dessert plate can anchor a whole breakfast tray, making a simple croissant and coffee feel intentional. In a villa majlis, a cluster of Kintsugi bowls can hold dates and sweets, the gold seams echoing jewellery and metalwork elsewhere in the room. On a restaurant counter, a stack of plates becomes a talking point before the food even arrives.

Dubai weather adds its own layer. Air-con means interiors stay cool, but terraces, balconies and rooftop lounges still face 40–45 °C days and occasional sand-laden wind. Porcelain handles heat well but is heavier and more brittle than outdoor melamine, so Kintsugi is best kept for indoor tables or sheltered terraces. For balcony brunches or pool decks with zero-glass policies, pair your porcelain with safer materials rather than carrying it down to shared areas.

When “kintsugi” becomes glass-clear

Kintsugi is more than porcelain in Amprio’s selection. The idea of gold-traced seams also appears in shatter-safe drinkware such as the Kintsugi Tumbler One, which takes the pattern into crystal-clear polycarbonate. You get the look of a precious glass, but in a material designed for everyday use.

Polycarbonate is light, impact-resistant and perfect for Dubai realities: late-night balcony drinks, rooftop gatherings, or moving between living room and shared pool where glass is restricted. The kintsugi lines printed or moulded into the surface hint at fragility while the material quietly resists actual breakage – a neat inversion of the original craft.

For care, treat polycarbonate differently from porcelain. Avoid abrasive sponges and strong alkaline detergents that can cloud the surface over time, and keep dishwasher cycles to moderate temperatures rather than the hottest setting. If hard water leaves a film, soak in warm water with a small splash of white vinegar, then polish dry with a microfibre cloth before storing.

Love in Bloom Vase Kintsugi: a sculptural chapter of the story

Kintsugi’s journey to Dubai tables is not only about flatware. The idea also blossoms into sculptural décor in the Love In Bloom Vase Kintsugi, where Marcantonio’s anatomical heart vase gains a patchwork of gold “joins”.

On a console in a small apartment, it reads as a museum piece; on a villa sideboard, it becomes a romantic focal point. Because the vessel stands upright and uses narrow veins for stems, it works with a few carefully chosen flowers rather than bulky bouquets – ideal when you want impact without crowding the room.

Here, the kintsugi reference is symbolic as much as visual. A heart that carries its mended seams openly is a powerful image for gifts after big life moments: recovery, new beginnings, even the simple act of moving cities. In Dubai, where so many residents have rewritten their own stories, that symbolism feels unusually direct.

Caring for Seletti Kintsugi in Dubai’s climate

Kintsugi pieces balance fine porcelain and metallic finishes, so a little extra care will keep them radiant for years, even with frequent use. Unlike melamine, which is almost indifferent to bumps, porcelain will always appreciate a softer touch.

Stack plates with a sense of order: keep Kintsugi together rather than mixing it loosely with heavier stoneware that might chip the rims. In a small kitchen, use slim shelf liners or felt dots between hero pieces such as dessert plates and serving platters if they are stored in tall stacks.

When washing, let very hot plates cool slightly before placing them in water to avoid thermal shock. Use mild detergent and a soft sponge around the gold accents; harsh scouring pads or abrasive powders can dull metallic detailing over time. If you run them through the dishwasher, choose a gentle cycle and avoid crowding them tightly against other items.

For mixed-material tables – porcelain Kintsugi plates, melamine side plates for kids, and polycarbonate tumblers – reset smartly. Keep melamine and acrylic for outdoor and child-friendly zones where drops are likely; let the porcelain stay more central, where risk is lower. That way you get the visual richness of kintsugi without unnecessary breakage.

Why kintsugi design resonates on Dubai tables now

Kintsugi speaks to a global mood that fits Dubai particularly well. It is optimistic but honest: not pretending that everything is perfect, yet refusing to define objects – or people – only by what has gone wrong. In a city where many residents have started over, changed careers, or stitched together lives across continents, you can see why “mended gold” feels so current.

Seletti’s take makes that philosophy tangible at the scale of a morning coffee cup or a single dessert plate. Amprio Milano’s curation brings those pieces directly into Dubai and GCC homes, where they sit alongside melamine for outdoor hosting, polycarbonate for poolside safety and other Italian-made collections. The result is a table that is not only stylish, but emotionally literate – one that quietly acknowledges that the most interesting stories are rarely straight lines.

FAQ

Is Seletti Kintsugi actually repaired pottery, or just inspired by kintsugi?
Seletti’s Kintsugi pieces are newly made, not literal repairs of broken plates. The design borrows the visual language of kintsugi – contrasting fragments and gold seams – and builds it into fresh porcelain forms so you can enjoy the look and philosophy without worrying about fragile, one-off antiques.

Can I use Kintsugi plates and mugs every day in Dubai, or are they only for special occasions?
You can absolutely use them daily. They are fine porcelain, so treat them with a little care, but they are made as functional tableware. In a Dubai setting, many people keep one or two Kintsugi pieces in regular rotation – a favourite breakfast plate, a coffee mug – and then bring out fuller sets for dinners and hosting.

How do I clean Seletti Kintsugi without damaging the gold details?
Wash with warm water, mild detergent and a soft sponge, paying gentle attention around the metallic seams. Avoid abrasive powders and very strong alkaline cleaners, which can dull both porcelain glaze and gold over time. If you use a dishwasher, choose a gentle cycle and space pieces so they do not knock against heavier items.

What is the difference between Kintsugi porcelain and Kintsugi polycarbonate tumblers?
Porcelain Kintsugi pieces are heavier, heat-tolerant and ideal for indoor tables. Kintsugi tumblers in polycarbonate mimic the look of glass but are shatter-resistant – better for balconies, rooftops and anywhere with zero-glass rules. Clean them with mild detergent and avoid very hot dishwasher cycles to preserve clarity and printed decoration.

Ready to bring mended gold to your own table? Start with the Kintsugi collection, add a Kintsugi Dessert Plate for sweet courses, and let the Love In Bloom Vase Kintsugi anchor your Dubai home with sculptural kintsugi design.