Puffin (Graham Secrets)
Painted wooden figure repaired with rattan and thread
Owner: Oli Stratford
Repaired by: Ng Si Ying in Singapore, 2022
This puffin is a contemporary edition of a classic wooden toy designed by Kay Bojesen in 1954. Nicknamed Graham Secrets by the owner, it was a gift from his parents for his 30th birthday.
Story
On submitting the puffin for repair, Oli wrote: “Unfortunately, Graham was attacked in the night by my cat Edward, and the poor lad has never been the same since. I tried to fix Graham’s wing, but it turns out that DIY kintsugi is really hard, and my puffin is now smeared in gold, which has stripped off the lacquer in blotches on his tummy, leaving him quite shabby and, if anything, has made the wing look even worse.”
Repair
Designer Ng Si Ying has fashioned a cast for the broken wing, using an intricate rattan weaving technique that covers the clumsy repairs and restores the toy’s dignity. In order to avoid using adhesive, the belt serves to hold the sling in place.
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