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 Zippos in Asia 
                                                                                            
As the Zippo gained popularity outside the United States in the 1940's following World War II,
local artists and engravers abroad would perform their art on a blank Zippo or would manufacture cases for Zippo inserts.  This became particularly prevalent in Asia where decorated lighters have continued to be especially popular to this day.
  1942-45 Zippo handmade Korea Flag   1946-48 Zippo (handpainted in Korea) butterfly & flowers / George1946-48 Zippo (handpainted in Korea) butterfly & flowers / George  
 These two lighters have been transformed using the traditional Korean art of Najeon Chilgi, or “lacquer ware inlaid with mother of pearl" where the surface is covered with interior lining of abalone shells which is then covered with multiple layers of lacquer.  The artist then carves designs into the surface, revealing the iridescent mother of pearl contrasting beautifully  against the dark lacquer.  The 1942-45 Zippo on the left has the letters "H.G.K." and the Korean flag on one side and a tea house and  water on the other. The 1946-48 Zippo on the right has been decorated with a butterfly and flower on one side and the name "George" on the other.
   
  1949 Zippo Lt. Col. C.J. Nelson US Army Tokyo Japan 1949 / Map of Japan (ligher used in Zippo advertising)1949 Zippo Lt. Col. C.J. Nelson US Army Tokyo Japan 1949 / Map of Japan (ligher used in Zippo advertising)        
  1949 Zippo hand engraved in Japan for Lt. Col. C.J. Nelson US Army Tokyo Japan 1949 with the image of Mount Fuji, a water carrier and cherry blossoms on one side and  a map of Japan on the other. This lighter has been featured in magazine advertisements for Zippo.   1957-63 Sterling presentation lighter from Thailand with a Zippo insert with an ornate elephant on one side.  The reverse has a sigtnature with "Compliments Genenral Thanom Kittikachorn Minister of Defence Thailand". He later became a dictator and oversaw a decade of military rule in Thailand from 1963 to 1973.