Imported from Song Dynasty China (960-1279), Kamakura-bori is a unique and elegant form of lacquer carving that developed in Japan during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). This magnificent art form, introduced by Chinese Buddhist priests, appealed to the Kamakura Shoguns and is still produced by traditional craftsmen in Kamakura today. Items such as this box illustrate the intricacy of the technique as wood was painstakingly carved, coated in numerous layers of lacquer and then polished to create an elegant composition. Production requires precise planning to avoid any mistakes and is a craft that requires great expertise. Modern pieces such as this piece, crafted by Shozan Mitsuhashi in 1999, maintain and innovate the traditional styles of Kamakura-bori, a craft that was nearly destroyed after the Second World War. This piece exemplifies modern Kamakura-bori, bringing it into the 20^th century, due to its ovoid form and stark blend of black on white lacquer rather than the use of traditional red colouring.