Shells are then inlayed into the outside rim of the bowl as the decorative finish. Beeswax is then used as finishing polish and as a glue to hold the shells in place.

"In the past, artisans used to carve mussel shells along the grain, so they could only peel off a thin layer. With modern machines, the shells are cut along the curvature to get flat, smooth mother-of ...

Hsinchu County-based seashell inlay worker Chen Fu-chiang (陳甫強), who immigrated from Hong Kong with his father in 1954, said he witnessed the glory days of Taiwan’s inlay export industry, which he now ...

Raden, a decorative lacquerware technique, uses the glimmering inner layer of shells. The inlay appears to float resplendently on the black lacquer, inspiring artisans to take the art into the future.