This beautiful vase is a contemporary decorative (Sơn Mài) from Vietnam, with an organic shape. It is made of natural black lacquer (tree sap) applied to a wood/fiber base. The exterior is glossy and polished with inlays of colored mother-of-pearl (Xà Cừ); the interior is matte and rough, composed of lacquer and charcoal. It embodies the richness of Vietnamese craftsmanship, perpetuating a millennia-old lacquer and mother-of-pearl technique.The interior is made with lacquer tree sap, the main active component of which is called Urushiol.Origin: Sap extracted from the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum or Rhus succedanea) in Vietnam.Properties: It hardens through oxidation in a humid environment (not through heat) to form an extremely hard, glossy, and water/heat resistant layer.Odor: It's the Urushiol, before or after incomplete hardening, that produces the strong, phenolic, tar/bitumen-like odor you perceive. This also makes the object feel more solid and heavier.The base is cracked over time, but this has no impact on the object's functionality.