From Broken Porcelain to Jewelry! A New Story of Bernardaud and Puiforcat

At Brococo Paris, we absolutely love beautiful craftsmanship. Each piece is handmade, carrying its own unique story, infused with the dedication of artisans, and meant to be cherished for generations.

One day, we accidentally broke a Bernardaud porcelain box and Puiforcat cups—both prestigious French brands. There's a Japanese saying, 「形あるものはいつか壊れる」 ("Everything that has form will eventually break"), and while it’s often true, no one ever wants to witness that moment. As we stared in disbelief, our minds momentarily froze. But instead of despairing, we quickly shifted our focus and thought of someone special: @atelierspring_izumi, a talented artist we had been following on Instagram. Izumi creates stunning jewelry from broken ceramics, breathing new life into once-shattered pieces. We had long admired her work and philosophy.

Last year, during a one-week stay in Tokyo, we had the chance to meet Izumi in person. After a delicious dinner, we sat down for tea and handed over the broken Bernardaud box and Puiforcat cups. It was an exciting moment—the anticipation of seeing something broken transformed into something new through her creativity.

Up until that point, we had only interacted with Izumi through Instagram, and based on our posts and writing style, she had assumed we were women. When we finally met at the restaurant, she was momentarily frozen in shock—she had been expecting a dinner with women, but instead, two large men appeared before her! Despite the unexpected turn of events, Izumi was incredibly warm and welcoming, and we ended up having a wonderful time. We may have surprised her, but we are truly grateful for her kindness and openness.

About a month ago, Izumi sent us photos of the finished pieces. The broken porcelain had been reborn as a delicate pendant, a ring, and a brooch, shining beautifully in their new form. Seeing them, we were overwhelmed with joy! The broken box and cups had been given a second life, weaving a new story as elegant jewelry.

This experience reinforced the idea that broken things don’t have to be discarded—they can be given new life. Upcycling is more than just recycling; it’s a way to create new value from something that seemed lost. Seeing a once-broken object reborn as a piece of art is truly special.

Have you ever transformed something broken into something new?

If you’d like to see more of Izumi’s beautiful creations, be sure to visit her online shop and explore her unique upcycled jewelry!