Thinly sliced pieces of shell (abalone, pearl oyster,
etc.) are laid on the lacquer-coated surface of a
wooden base or core. Next, additional layers of
lacquer are applied to the entire surface, including
the area covered with pieces of mother-of-pearl.
The lacquer stains are then scraped away from the
mother-of-pearl to expose the pattern.
These steps are repeated by a master craftsman
until the design reaches his high standards. Because
of required steps and meticulous attention to detail,
the lacquer wares were created mainly for the royal
family, nobility, or Buddhist temples.