An increasing number of Japanese lacquer objects from the Far Eastern collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, were found to exhibit corrosion deposits on areas of gray metal inlay. As no previous work on this type of problem was revealed in literature searches, a lengthy and detailed study was undertaken. From analysis of the metals it was possible to deduce that the inlays consisted of a range of lead/tin alloys with pure lead and pure tin at each extreme. The pure lead showed the greatest tendency to corrode. Examination of the corrosion products indicated that the corrosion process was caused by unsuitable storage conditions. Certain trace elements in the metal alloys were a significant factor in determining the extent of corrosion. A fully effective treatment was sought which answered the aesthetic and ethical requirements of both the Conservation and Far Eastern Departments. The acceptable technique developed was an air abrasive method using a glass bead aggregate followed by light polishing (if appropriate). -- AATA