r/eastasiadiscussions

Although ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia were among the first to use mother-of-pearl in decorative crafts, it was ancient China that developed mother-of-pearl lacquerware into a sophisticated artistic tradition. The craft later spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, where it became a shared artistic heritage among these four countries. It was eventually introduced to the West through Japan, where it gained great popularity among members of the European upper class.