After almost thirty years as director of the Museum of Lacquer Art, Monika Kopplin is going into retirement. She has contributed in no small measure to the international reputation of the institution. To mark the occasion, this special volume presents works from dozens of collections that have been acquired and hosted at the museum under her tenure. This retrospective shows the huge variety of contemporary lacquer art from Japan, China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Russia, and Europe, offering a glimpse into the past, present, and future of this unique form of craftsmanship. This eclectic volume also presents design objects and experimental installations ranging from classic to modern, from clearly structured to playful and innovative.