A decorative lacquer technique in which smooth pieces of mother-of-pearl from great green turbo or other shells are adhered to a lacquered surface and covered with another layer of lacquer. The top layer of lacquer is then removed from the shell surfaces. Another method of inlaying shell is to carve out shallow beds into a wooden surface in which to embed the shells directly. Inlaid shell pieces are often incised with delicate hairline engraving. See also Incised designs.