Kinsai refers to techniques used to apply gold leaf or gold paint to ceramics. Both terms also refer to the works produced by these techniques. Gold leaf or paint is applied over the ceramics’ glaze or overglaze decoration and then fired at a lower temperature than the overglaze itself. 

Gold leaf and gold paint are valuable materials. In addition, gold leaf is very thin and particularly difficult to handle. Works flawlessly decorated with these materials reveal the extraordinary skill of the artisan.