Two restored relics. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

A special exhibition showcasing ancient ceramic restoration techniques has opened at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, offering visitors a closer look at how broken pottery and porcelain are brought back to life.

Titled Restoration and Decoration: Embellishment Techniques of Ancient Ceramics, the exhibition opened on April 21 and runs through June 21, with support from more than 20 cultural institutions nationwide.

It is divided into two sections: one highlighting the historical wisdom behind ancient ceramic repair, and the other focusing on contemporary restoration technologies and innovation.

Visitors can see a range of traditional repair methods, including metal staple repair, gold restoration and rim reinforcement techniques. Among the highlights is juci, a centuries-old method that uses metal staples to mend cracked ceramics. Curators noted that traces of similar repair work can be traced back to Neolithic pottery.

The exhibition also features restoration tools, digital projection displays and interactive presentations to help visitors better understand the process of repairing damaged artifacts.

One of the most eye-catching sections focuses on 3D printing technology in cultural relic restoration. Using 3D scanning and precision printing, conservators can recreate missing ceramic fragments with high accuracy while following key restoration principles such as reversibility and minimal intervention.

Two restored relics. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]