Mending a cracked bowl with kintsugi
Kintsugi repairs broken ceramics with urushi lacquer and a dusting of powdered metal. The seam is left visible, so the repair becomes part of the bowl's history rather than something to hide.
Traditional urushi cures slowly. It needs warmth and humidity to harden, and each layer can take a week or more. Most of the work is waiting, which is the part beginners find hardest and teachers tend to enjoy most.
What you actually need
A first kit is modest: raw lacquer, a fine brush, a bamboo spatula, gloves and a closed box with a damp cloth to act as a curing chamber. Raw urushi can cause a rash much like poison ivy, so gloves are not optional.
Choosing a first piece
Start with a clean break in a piece you like but would not grieve. Two or three shards are plenty. Small chips can wait until your hand has steadied.