Production is thus mainly a coordinated effort conducted in workshops, where a master specialising in the art of composition leads a group of specialised craftsmen.
The inlay art thrived in China throughout the late period of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing dynasty (1644-1912) and is found on almost all types of furniture and furnishings. In 2017, the baibaoqian technique was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage item in China.
The application of the luxurious inlay to objects was once a class marker of the Chinese elite and commanded a high value. Each inlay component is carefully and skilfully carved separately in relief before the pieces are assembled together to make up a pictorial image that usually expresses an auspicious theme.