This beautiful whale lacquer box was first hand carved. Then sap from a different species of trees within the Anacardiaceae family was collected. The resin, secreted from cuts in the bark of the tree was filtered and used as a paste, primer, glue, or finish. After many coats of the "lacquer" dried, the whale was hand painted in intricate patterns. The whale is 8 inches long. The box lid lifts where your special keepsakes can be stored. This whale has the cutest smile!