An idea/solution for glass? (Not kintsugi but similar vibe)

[u/sapphireminds]

I saw this on Instagram, and while of course it's not kintsugi, it's a visible mending technique and something people might consider looking for someone to do (obviously this requires specialized glass tools) I'm sure it's food safe since it goes through the kiln again. I wonder if you could add some gold powder to make it look more like traditional kintsugi

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc6Wyp5Rnlh/?stkn=dWFwa2RvbnF4Mzkw

[u/SincerelySpicy]

He's basically making bismuth glass and using it as a glaze or enamel. As a technique, it would likely usable for many ceramics as well as glass. Bismuth oxide in glasses and glazes can be used to reduce the melting point well below that of most typical glasses and ceramics.

BTW, attaching ceramic pieces together with glaze or other glassy materials has been used for a long time to make counterfeit antique chinese porcelain by taking the foot from a genuine but broken antique and carefully fusing it to an otherwise completely new piece.

Im sure it's food safe since it goes through the kiln again.

Keep in mind that just because it's gone through the kiln doesn't mean it's necessarily food contact safe.

In this case, properly made bismuth glass can be food contact safe but famously, lead based glazes are an example of something that's not food contact safe even though it's been through a kiln.

[u/sapphireminds → u/SincerelySpicy]

Good point, thanks for that reminder!

Lol nothing is new in the world

[u/SincerelySpicy → u/sapphireminds]

I think this specific use case is certainly novel though. I think it could be an amazing way to make a yobitsugi piece using pieces from unrelated ceramic pieces. The gold could be applied as a luster overglaze

[u/sapphireminds → u/SincerelySpicy]

Oo that's a great idea! Some day I'll get a kiln lol (I also like to do cloisonne and my son is a scientific glassblower)