Raden

An example of Ryukyuan red lacquer platters, with mother-of-pearl inlay dragon design.

• Japanese: 螺鈿 (raden)

Raden, or mother-of-pearl inlay, is a style and technique frequently used in lacquerware decoration. It involves inlaying or otherwise affixing onto the lacquerware object cut sections of abalone or turban shell, which have been ground to roughly 1mm in thickness, forming a thin shimmering rainbow-colored material. The technique is widely used throughout the East Asian region.

References

• "Cultural Treasures of the Ryukyu Kingdom: Ryukyuan Lacquerware," pamphlet, Urasoe Art Museum.