Lacquered lidded bowl inlaid with Sharkskin

This is a spherical bowl with a lid. There are two dragons struggling for a cintamani depicted across the bowl. Copper wires were used for the outline of the dragons whereas shark skin was used for the dragons' scale and claws. The lid also has its centre decorated with copper, inlaid with shark skin in order to depict a cintamani. Bowls as heavily decorated as this using shark skin as a substitute for mother of pearl is very rare.