A unique charity auction hosted by Tennants Auctioneers celebrating the Japanese art of traditional Kintsugi has raised more than £20,000 for Cancer Research UK. Thought to be the first dedicated auction of Kintsugi in the UK, the timed online auction featured an exceptional collection of ceramic pieces that had been restored using the ancient Japanese practice of Kintsugi, in which broken objects are repaired with lacquer and highlighted with precious metals, to create unique and beautiful objects.
Each piece in the auction was created by the auction’s organiser and Kintsugi practitioner, Nicole Campbell MBE, who used broken ceramics by some of the leading studio potters and donated by Michelin-starred and Michelin-listed restaurants from around the UK, including L'Enclume, Ynyshir and The Black Swan at Oldstead.
The auction achieved a remarkable 100% sold rate (known as a White Glove Sale) and drew international interest, attracting 163 registered bidders from as far afield as Australia and America in the hopes of winning one of the 69 lots on offer. Highlights of the sale included a Small Sake Cup by Britta James from the Leach Pottery, donated by The Clove Club restaurant which made £700. A Yunomi or Handless Cup by Kara Leigh-Ford and donated by the restaurant Mýse, fetched £650, and a Large Plate by Montgolfier Ceramique, donated by Opheem, achieved £550.
Nicole says: “The philosophy behind kintsugi is ‘That which was broken, once repaired, becomes stronger and more beautiful’ – a wonderful metaphor for life and in particular for those of us who are living with cancer. It is about honouring scars, rather than hiding them, and finding hope in renewal. The results of the auction far exceeded my wildest expectations, and my thanks go to all the chefs and restaurants, the potters and all the bidders who have been so generous in helping to raise such an amazing total, every penny of which will go directly to Cancer Research UK.”
