Hmmm, Frankenvase!
So I've got to ask, do you space out the pre-drilled holes with calipers, they look very evenly spaced and of equal width.
The strange thing is I like the curved line of staples that wander around with the dark crack but the almost straight line of them lack something by way of contrast, I know they are also holding together the crack but as it's not so pronounced in its colour, they almost seem unnecessary.
And I hope that your friend Richard is not so badly hurt as the photo intimates, please pass our best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.