a Chinese vessel with a tortoiseshellpattern, called a 'taihisen'
玳皮盞という茶碗 - EDR日英対訳辞書
Patterns such as a lozenge, a tortoiseshell, a hemp leaf, checkers, a round pattern, a whirlpool pattern and watagai are often used.
菱形、亀甲、麻葉、市松、丸紋、渦紋、輪違いなどが多用されている。 - Wikipedia日英京都関連文書対訳コーパス
There is also another theory that this term originated from the purple color that was a symbolic color of the polar star because Kikko (hexagonal pattern) of tortoiseshellpattern used as a brand mark of Kikkoman Corporation was a symbol of the North Start belief (Myoken Bosatsu belief).
キッコーマンに代表される亀甲文様の亀甲は北極星信仰(妙見菩薩信仰)で、北極星のシンボルカラーである紫色からと言う説。 - Wikipedia日英京都関連文書対訳コーパス
Major karakami patterns were a geometrical pattern (geometric design) such as arabesque of 'karakami' and a tortoiseshellpattern in an early stage, and the technical decorative pattern of paintings such as the Korin School from recent times.
からかみの紋様は、当初「唐紙」の唐草や亀甲紋様などの幾何学紋様が主流で、近世にはいって光琳派などの絵画の技巧的な装飾文様が多用されるようになった。 - Wikipedia日英京都関連文書対訳コーパス