Skip to product information
1 of 3

Traditional Kintsugi Shop TSUGU TSUGU

Bengal-red Urushi Lacquer for kintsugi and Maki-e (10 g) (TSUGUKIT Refill)

Bengal-red Urushi Lacquer for kintsugi and Maki-e (10 g) (TSUGUKIT Refill)

Regular price €19,95 EUR
Regular price Sale price €19,95 EUR
Sale Sold out
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Bengal-red Urushi Lacquer (10g). This tube of urushi is a complementary product for our kintsugi kit TSUGUKIT. It can be used for kintsugi and lacquerware projects.

■ Product details

1 x Tube of Bengal-red Urushi (10g)
This tube should be ideally used within a year after being produced.

■ What is urushi ?

Urushi is the tree sap of the lacquer tree. It has been used as a natural glue and a coating layer for hundreds of years in Japan. It is the main ingredient used in kintsugi and Japanese lacquerware. Once it has hardened, urushi is very strong and durable. It is also completely food safe.

-Since lacquer is tree sap and a raw material, it is better to store it in a cool, dark place (such as a refrigerator) to maintain its quality.

-Lacquer is less likely to harden if stored for a long period of time.
If such a condition occurs, please purchase new fresh lacquer.

■ !!! Warning !!!

Urushi lacquer should always be handled with care because it can trigger strong skin rashes if it comes into direct contact with the skin. You should always wear gloves and cover your skin when using urushi lacquer. If urushi gets on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible with vegetable oil. Applying hand-cream can help prevent strong rashes.

If you experience a rash when using raw urushi lacquer, please stop using it immediately and make sure to seek the advice of a physician.

Please note that Tsugu Tsugu is not liable for skin irritations caused by the use of urushi.

If you get lacquer on your skin, we would appreciate it if you would immediately dissolve the lacquer in canola oil and remove it, then wash your hands with soap and water.

■ How does urushi harden?

Urushi actually cures by absorbing the ambient humidity. The ideal conditions for curing would be 20~25℃ (68-77°F) with a humidity level of 70~80%. To recreate these conditions, you can make a "urushiburo." You can refer to the following video to create your own urushiburo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouDCBSd92FA
If the temperature and the humidity are good, urushi should take 3-4 days to cure. It can take longer if you are in a drier environment

New & Improved!

Since Bengal-red urushi is watery, and the previous small tube sometimes leaked during overseas transportation, we changed the size of the tube. Therefore, it has been out of stock for a long time. Sorry for keep you waiting!

It used to be 7g bengal-red urushi in a small tube, but the new one comes with 10g urushi in a bigger tube. Therefore, you can see relatively larger blank room in the tube, but it is intended like this so that the urushi does not leak from the tube.

■ Important Shipping Information

For U.S. customers: 
FedEx may request you to submit a "TSCA form" upon receiving the product. As long as it’s submitted by the deadline, your product will be delivered. If requested, we can provide the form, which you’ll need to print and sign. The TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) is a U.S. law regulating the import of toxic substances, including lacquer from Japan, regardless of the seller. Please note, we cannot issue a refund if the TSCA form is not submitted.
If you refuse to submit the TSCA form by the deadline, the shipping company will dispose of the item on the spot, and we will be charged an additional disposal fee.

For EU customers: 
Customers are responsible for paying any customs duties before receiving their orders. Unfortunately, we cannot estimate the customs fees in advance. We have heard that customs duties in the EU can be particularly high. Please note that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances.
If you refuse to pay the customs duties upon delivery, the shipping company will dispose of the item on the spot, and we will be charged an additional disposal fee.

View full details

What is Kintsugi?

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form that originated in the 15th century, and it's been around for over 500 years. When a cherished piece of pottery or porcelain breaks, Kintsugi specialists repair it using natural materials such as genuine lacquer and then decorate the repair marks with gold or silver to make them stand out instead of trying to hide them. Rather, we should allow cracks and blemishes in our belongings to shine and tell a story of their own. The result is an object that's more beautiful than before it was broken, and uniquely valuable because of its history. This is the kintsugi philosophy.

We Are Kintsugi Specialists

Tsugu Tsugu is proud to be part of this ancient tradition—we use only natural materials for our kintsugi repairs. We know where beginners tend to get stuck in the process because we receive so many repairs every day and have taught kintsugi classes for years. That's why our products are filled with educational information and easy-to-understand instructions, along with YouTube videos on the proper way to perform authentic kintsugi. Our goal is to help people around the world successfully perform authentic kintsugi and enjoy a long and prosperous life with their beautiful and favorite pottery.

About Tsugu Tsugu

At Tsugu Tsugu, we are proud to offer kintsugi classes almost every day so that you can share in the fascination of restoring broken pottery.

We believe that there's something special about a piece of broken pottery—it's not just an object that needs to be thrown away, but rather it becomes a treasure once repaired with gold or silver lacquer and put back together. We want to make sure that as many people as possible get to experience this ancient Japanese technique and feel the same joy we do when we see our customers' faces light up with excitement.

Learn More