This black, lacquer bowl is inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl decoration, one of the decorative techniques used in the making of lacquerware. The main body is embellished by a stylised floral scroll motif, which was also widely used on Ming Chinese lacquerware. The mother-of-pearl inlay is outlined with raised gold painting, adding to the brilliant appearance of the object. Lacquer objects decorated with mother-of-pearl were made in China, Japan, Korea and the Ryukyu Islands. It comes from the resin of a tree indigenous to China and Japan. Lightweight and aesthetically appealing, lacquerware was perhaps most valued for its durability (being water, heat and insect resistant). As these objects were created using labour-intensive manufacturing processes, they were sought after as luxury items. The craft of making lacquerware was probably introduced to the Ryukyus from China during the 14th century, when the island kingdom had close political and cultural ties to China. Throughout the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Chinese lacquer production had a strong influence on the lacquerware of the Ryukyu Islands.
