As early as the Western Zhou Dynasty, mussel shells were inlaid on lacquerware for decoration, and this technology developed greatly in the Tang and Five Dynasties. For example, the bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl by Hua Niaowen, a figure in the Tang Dynasty unearthed in Henan Province, and the five-generation mother-of-pearl sutra boxes discovered in Suzhou Ruiguang Tower are all representative works of this period, and this technique was more popular in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. "On Gegu" by Cao Mingming in the Ming Dynasty said: "The mother-of-pearl lacquerware came from Luling County, Ji 'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province ... Everything in the Song Dynasty was firmly painted with mother-of-pearl.

The Ming Dynasty was a period when ancient lacquerware developed and flourished, when thick mother-of-pearl and thin mother-of-pearl were inlaid together. Pinctada crassipes, also known as hard Pinctada crassipes, adopts thick Pinctada crassipes with simple color. It is made of less colorful shells such as old mussels, Wang Huan, Wang Xi, etc., and its thickness is usually 0.5-2 mm. Thin mother-of-pearl, also known as soft mother-of-pearl, is made of colorful abalone shells, with beautiful pearl-like luster, and its thickness is below 0.5 mm, and some are only 0.5 mm.. Making soft mother-of-pearl requires craftsmen to have high skills.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the production of mother-of-pearl inlaid handicrafts reached its peak, and there were special craftsmen in the palace to make royal mother-of-pearl inlays. They are numerous and varied, ranging from screens, doors and windows, tables and chairs, bookshelves and cabinets to bottles, boxes, cups, plates and school stationery, all decorated with colorful mother-of-pearl inlaid with landscape figures, flowers, birds, fish and insects. There is also a kind of lacquer wood with mother-of-pearl, whose mother-of-pearl is higher than the surface of paint or wood, forming a relief or high relief pattern, which is called "engraving". During the Qianlong period, with the prosperity of economy, handicrafts inlaid with mother-of-pearl became popular. This kind of mother-of-pearl inlaid vessel is very exquisite in craftsmanship and is deeply loved by emperors and dignitaries. In addition to palace production, folk workshops are also produced in large quantities. There are many workshops and craftsmen in Yangzhou and Suzhou, Jiangsu. Mother-of-pearl inlay technology is not only used in lacquerware, but also widely used in hardwood furniture such as mahogany and small utensils such as cups and plates. In addition to continuing to develop landscape figures, flowers, birds and insects in the Ming Dynasty, patterns embedded with mother-of-pearl appeared on wood products in the form of flowers, plants, insects and beasts. Its patterns have far-reaching implications and are auspicious. There are Zhu Bao Ping An, Melons and Butterflies, Shoushan Fuhai, Fu Gui Peony, Tuanlong and Tuanfeng.