maki-e

A style of Japanese lacquerware made with gold or silver sprinkled on wet lacquer.

Although indigenous to Japan as a technique, early maki-e retained a T'ang Chinese influence in design. Maki-e is achieved by spreading and scattering gold or silver dust, flakes, nuggets, and leaf on a drawing done in sticky lacquer, which is applied over the hardened lacquer foundation.

[…] and that was a puzzle until Orson remembered that he’d recounted without seeming upset (this disputed by Greg) that the boy he’d recently gotten rid of had stolen it, along with four of the maki-e lacquer boxes, as if these were objects as easy to sell on the street as a TV or a stereo.

An object decorated with this style of lacquer.