A craftsman shows the metal staples used to repair broken wares at Hongqiao Antique Center in Shanghai earlier this month. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Aside from pottery and ceramics, Gu has handled other items such as jade bracelets and even a vintage bamboo flute that one client had bought in Japan. She said working with bamboo is especially tricky on account of the cracks produced by drilling.

Gu also occasionally holds ju ci workshops for members of the public to learn more about the practice's history and techniques. Attendees vary in age and profession with dentists, surgeons, art museum directors, and university professors turning up to hear Gu's words of wisdom.

The technique of ju ci is more than 1,000 years old in China. Illustrations of craftsmen mending pots can be found in Chinese paintings dating back to as early as the 13th century. Gu estimates there are only about 1,000 craftsmen in China who are skilled in ju ci. In some regions of China, the craft has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage.

The technique of ju ci differs from typical repair methods in that it is not aimed at creating a perfect look. This, Gu believes, is where the beauty of ju ci lies.

"Repair marks are an indication of the item's history," she said, "People don't regard them as imperfections - they see them as meaningful statements."