Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Embracing Wabi-Sabi...

Are you familiar with the japanese art of Wabi-Sabi?

Wikipedia has this explanation...

"In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".

I have unknowingly followed this practice for many years...
finding beauty in the imperfect.

I just didn't know that it actually had a name.

The Globe and Mail published this article on Wabi- Sabi in April.

The following images are just a few things in The Humble Bungalow that are examples of how I embrace the art of Wabi-Sabi.


Vintage McCoy crazed bowl atop a distressed and well used quarter sawn oak arts and crafts trestle table which sits in our kitchen.


I bought this bowl years ago at a church sale...
the crazing is what attracted me to the bowl which was 50 cents!
It is one of my favourite pieces.


A wee vintage ironstone jug
also crazed 
found at a thrift sale.


Tarnished silver 
I like some of our silver polished and some of it wearing a dark cloak of tarnish.


The tarnish does not really detract from the piece.
It adds a patina that speaks to its age.


Original patina on the hand hammered copper arts and crafts tray.


a different and unexpected example of Wabi-Sabi...
soap cube from Marseille France.

Do you embrace Wabi-Sabi?

Please leave a comment to let me know what you have in your home 
that speaks of Wabi-Sabi.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

22 comments:

Kathryn said...

That would be me! Imperperfect, impermanent and always a work in progress.

Anonymous said...

I do not believe in perfection in anything or anyone. Flaws are everywhere in life, accepting this makes for living in greater peace. Like you, I choose to see the beauty. Flaws and all... Susan

Karen said...

I just read the book "Wabi-Sabi Welcome" by Julie Pointer Adams and learned that I am quite the Wabi-Sabi woman also! I loved the book so much that I renewed it three times so I could keep looking at the photos and re-reading her experiences of food and cooking in other cultures she had visited and speaking to embracing the simple, comfortable and well used things you have. You would love it.

Madame Là-bas said...

Life is definitely Wabi-Sabi. As we move through the years, we are all a little tarnished and crazed. Perfection is the home is uncomfortable and unnatural. The scratches and distressing show that our belongings have been well-used. I've just been on a reading marathon and I read several books that you might enjoy. In your present French mode, I suggest The Confidant by Hélène Grémillon. We have an excellent used book store in Steveston so I'm off to trade some books today. Only 5 more days to work!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Its definitely me too!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I am not even sure that perfection exists...I use the word perfect regularly but its my interpretation of perfect..."perfectly imperfect" might better describe what I am feeling or thinking...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Ah there is a wabi-sabi book for women...thank you for sharing the tiltle and the author...I may be able to get my hands on it.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I am off to the bookstore today...will see if they have that book in stock.
Enjoy your last 5 days at school...they are usually busy ones in the library with all the textbooks and books coming back...and the overdue lists....I do remember even though its been a few years! Let me know if you plan to come over to the island...would love to meet up.

Jeannine said...

I confess that I have perfectionist tendencies. I sometimes have a hard time finding the place between perfect and good enough and not stressing about things. I definitely tend more toward "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right" than "eh, whatever". At the same time, in some ways, I'm looser than I've ever been! I guess I was wound pretty tight in the first place! A work in progress,in many ways, that's for sure.

anonymous said...

I love wabi-sabi and envy an acquaintance who has a very old ironstone platter that was repaired with metal staples on the bottom - so unique and makes me wonder how they did that! BTW I have that same small ironstone jug which I found at the flea market on Cape Cod. I also have some old silverplated napkin rings on which I have kept the tarnish as it lends them so much character and looks like old pewter. A crazed tiny mixing bowl with a hairline crack on one side was purchased for 50 cents - much loved, much used.

slf

Maria said...

Also fashion models are not perfect. I find there is alot of beauty in imperfections, like in old buildings, wilted flowers, broken shoes, cracked cups, wrinkled sheets (and faces), rusty fences, gates, shutters or doors off their hindges etc. I didn't know it was Wabi Sabi; I even like the sound.
Greetings Maria x

Anonymous said...

It is so nice to see the beauty in little things and imperfections. Very human and precious-handicrafts are unique and little imperfections are part of it
Dottoressa

KSL said...

Wabi-Sabi is very important in the visual arts. A painting, or sculpture too "perfect" generally lacks charm and character. I don't know enough about the whole subject though and definitely should read up.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

We all have different "styles" and its important to be content so if you like things in perfect order I say go for it!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I have an antique bowl that was reoaired using staples...I purchased it for that very interesting repair technique. Its nice to hear that we both have items that we love that are not perfect.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

The words Wabi-Sabi sound a bit like "herky jerky" the two words together rhyme they seem appropriate together.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Like a soft faded denim shirt that has been washed and worn over and over...or a worn pair of slippers...or a favourite pair of jeans....a classic leather handbag that has the patina of age...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I remember hearing that a painter might add a "mistake" to a painting just to make it appear more real...

Splenderosa said...

I've just finished your recommended book,my friend. Needless to say, I was brought to tears over Ruby and Thomas and then Charlotte. Every time I see poppies I will think of you. xx's

stacey said...

The quote I have hanging in my house is "I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions." It reminds me to balance acceptance and self improvement. I was told that weavers always put a flaw in their work because mortals could not aspire to pure perfection.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh it sounds like you enjoyed the book...its wonderful to read a story that we feel moved enough to weep at the end.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I have heard that about weavers...as a knitter I frequently have a flaw or two in my project...completely unintentional but when I notice the flaw I smile.