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 (turbo marmoratus, J: yakôgai 夜光貝), 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.