The art of mending

Gu Yu is among one of the few Ju Ci experts in Shanghai. She currently operates a pottery repair studio at Hongqiao Antique Mall. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Itinerant craftsmen used to travel through villages in China, alerting residents of their repair services simply by shouting.

These craftsmen were often hired to fix broken household wares and the skilled ones were renowned for their ability to mend something as small as a cup without using any glue. They would first drill tiny holes on either side of the crack before bending metal staples to hold the pieces together. Though the technique, called Ju Ci, might sound rudimentary, it was undoubtedly effective.

With the onset of industrialization, Ju Ci was gradually replaced by modern techniques. The craft, however, looks to be making a comeback today, and people are willing to spend more than what they paid for the original item just to have it repaired in this manner.

The cost of each repair job depends on the complexity of the task. Each staple used costs 100 yuan ($14.5) while a circular bonding agent with a diameter of no more than 10 centimeters costs 600 yuan. When clients request for gold to be used in the repairs, the total fee could amount up to thousands of dollars.

"It is an art of understanding. You feel a broken piece, re-design it, and give it a new life," was how Hou Yu, a photographer who documents the craft, described Ju Ci.