Descrition of lacquerware tray
This small lacquerware tray isn't what it appears to be at first glance. The maple leaf pattern in the center isn't carved or painted—it's an actual leaf, sealed into layers of colored lacquer using a traditional Chinese technique that creates patterns resembling flowing water or marbled stone.
Each tray displays completely unique patterns. No two are alike.
Size: 12 cm diameter (outer), 11 cm (inner), 2 cm height
Price: $159
Stock: Only 3 pieces available
The Xipi Technique
This black lacquerware tea tray is made using xipi, sometimes called "rhinoceros-skin lacquer" in English—not because it uses animal materials, but because the finished surface pattern resembles the texture around a rhinoceros's hide.
The technique works like this: Multiple layers of lacquer in different colors (typically black, red, yellow) are applied to a wooden base. Each layer is manipulated while wet to create an uneven surface. More layers go on top. Then the entire surface is ground down and polished smooth.
As the polishing reveals the buried layers beneath, flowing patterns emerge—swirls of color that look like mineral veins in stone or oil on water. The randomness is what makes it work. The artisan can't control exactly where each color will surface, which means every piece becomes a unique expression of the process itself.
The Maple Leaf Detail
In the center of this tray, you'll find a real maple leaf preserved in the lacquer.
The artisan selects a leaf with good form—intact veins, natural shape—and embeds it into a specific lacquer layer during the building process. More layers seal it in place. When the surface is polished down, the leaf's outline and vein structure become visible, creating a natural accent within the abstract flowing patterns around it.
It's a detail that bridges the organic randomness of xipi with something recognizably from nature. The leaf position and orientation vary from piece to piece, adding another layer of individuality.
About The Tray Itself
Dimensions
The outer diameter is about 12 cm, with an inner usable area of 11 cm. Height is 2 cm. It's sized for a teacup, small teapot, or as a catch-all for desk items.
Construction
Wood base coated with natural urushi lacquer. The xipi surface is glossy with a soft sheen that reflects light without being mirror-bright. The bottom is finished in plain black lacquer.
Weight and feel
Substantial but not heavy. The lacquer coating gives it a smooth, warm-to-touch surface
How People Use It
For tea service
Set your teacup on it during tea sessions. The water-resistant lacquer surface won't stain or warp from heat and moisture. Wipes clean easily.
As a coaster with character
More interesting than a plain coaster. The flowing patterns and embedded leaf make it a small focal point on a coffee table or desk.
For small objects
Works as a tray for rings, watches, keys, or other pocket items on an entryway table or nightstand. The raised edge keeps things contained.
Display piece
Even empty, it functions as a small sculptural object. The patterns and leaf detail reward close inspection.
Why The Random Patterns Matter
In mass production, consistency is the goal. Every item should look identical to the next.
Traditional xipi lacquer works the opposite way. The patterns emerge through a process that can't be precisely controlled—layers of lacquer applied, manipulated, built up, then polished down to reveal what was hidden beneath.
This means your tray will have its own specific arrangement of colors and flows. The leaf might be positioned slightly left or right of center. The marbled patterns around it will be unique to this piece.
For some buyers, this unpredictability is a concern. For others, it's the entire point—owning something genuinely one-of-a-kind rather than one of thousands of identical items.
The Handmade Reality
Natural variation
The surface patterns, color distribution, and leaf placement differ on each tray. This is inherent to the xipi technique and part of what makes each piece individual.
Surface characteristics
The bottom, finished in black lacquer, may show small irregularities—minor depressions, light scratches, or slight unevenness. These are normal marks of handwork, not defects.
The lacquer surface itself is durable and smooth, but it's created through human hands applying and polishing multiple layers, not by machine precision.
What you're getting
A functional object made slowly using traditional methods. The trade-off for uniqueness and craft authenticity is accepting that it won't have factory-perfect uniformi
Care Instructions
Daily use
Wipe with a soft cloth after use. For anything sticky, use a barely damp cloth and dry immediately.
What to avoid
Don't expose to direct sunlight for extended periods. Keep away from heat sources. Don't use abrasive cleaners or scrubbing tools.
Long-term
Lacquer improves with age and gentle use. Over years, the surface develops a deeper patina. Occasional application of camellia oil or specialized wood/lacquer wax maintains the finish.
Storage
Room temperature, away from extreme humidity or dryness.
Is This Right For You?
- This Chinese lacquer tea tray makes sense if:
- You appreciate objects that are genuinely unique rather than mass-produced
- You're comfortable with natural variation in handmade items
- You value traditional craft techniques over industrial consistency
- You like the aesthetic of flowing, organic patterns
- You want something functional that also serves as a small art piece
It might not be right if you need something perfectly uniform or if you're uncomfortable with the idea that minor surface irregularities are part of handmade work.
At $159 for a small tray, you're paying for specialized technique, natural materials, and the time investment required to build up and polish those layers. It's priced as craft art rather than as basic tableware.
With only 3 pieces available and the weeks required to produce new ones, this is genuinely limited stock.
Product Specifications
- Outer diameter: ~12 cm
- Inner diameter: ~11 cm
- Height: ~2 cm
- Technique: Xipi (rhinoceros-skin lacquer)
- Materials: Wood base, natural urushi lacquer, real maple leaf
- Finish: Black lacquer base with marbled color patterns
- Surface: Glossy with soft sheen
- Use: Tea tray, coaster, small object holder, display piece
- Care: Wipe clean, avoid harsh chemicals
- Stock: 2 pieces available
Choose Your Piece
Each black lacquerware tea tray displays its own pattern arrangement and leaf placement. We ship the next available piece, trusting that the unique character of handmade work is part of what you're buying.
If the unpredictability of xipi patterns or the natural marks of handcraft are concerns, this might not be the right purchase. But if you're looking for something genuinely one-of-a-kind made using centuries-old techniques—this is it.
Only 3 remaining.
