Footed bowl

Containers with mother-of-pearl inlay such as this one are used in Buddhist ceremonies to hold offerings such as flowers, incense, candles, and ingredients for betel chewing.

Decoration in mother-of-pearl had a long history in Siam. In the 1800s high-ranking members of the royal family were appointed to oversee production in the Department of Mother-of-Pearl Inlay. By the end of the 1800s this art form started to lose favor as taste turned toward Western styles, and eventually the department was closed down in 1926. Some production continued in commercial workshops.