In the 16th century, with the increase in trading activities, Japanese lacquerware decorated with Western motifs were exported to European countries. This miniature Christian shrine is one of the pieces of Namban lacquerware which has been brought back to Japan recently. The thin box-shaped shrine with double-hinged doors, houses the image of the Madonna and Child which is oil-painted on copper plate. The shrine itself is covered entirely with black lacquer on which chrysanthemums, camellias, Japanese bush clover, birds and butterflies are arranged, employing the decorative techniques of flat maki-e, needle engraving and mother-of-pearl inlay.