Diminutive, finely decorated lacquer boxes would have traditionally been used to present gifts or store objects of great value. On this box, Yamamura’s mesmerizing swirls of mother-of-pearl inlay on black lacquer create a sense of excitement and movement, inviting the viewer to open the lid. In contrast, the interior is decorated with maki-e, speckled gold-and-black lacquer, one of Japanese lacquerware’s most traditional designs.