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Natural Burled Carved Keyaki Wood Tea Tray browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Tea Articles: Pre 1920: item # 537307 Please refer to our stock # 11-333 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book $565 |
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| This unusual Japanese wooden tea tray, carved from the burled trunk of a keyaki (zelkova) tree, was made for use in the tea ceremony. Meiji period (1868-1912). Trays of this type were important accessories in senchado (“the way of sencha”) -- the tea ceremony developed in the Edo period using sencha tea. The short thick exterior wall of the tray is crafted from the densely grained wavy burl, which has a sheen that almost glows. The base on the interior is finished with reddish brown lacquer and the carved interior walls with black lacquer. The lip, which is naturally formed, curls amorphously like waves over the inner wall. The extraordinary graining and burl formations are not only visually stunning but tactilely inviting as well. The close-grained hardwood has a rich brown color and a soft mellow patina. The tray’s shape is natural and irregular, and it represents consummate skill of the artist who created it. Woodworking craftsmen frequently sought out interesting shapes, often choosing the point just where the tree started spreading out its roots and going into the earth. With its beautiful dense grain, keyaki is the most expensive of Japanese woods. It is a sturdy, long-lasting hardwood requiring little maintenance. Pieces crafted from burled keyaki – wood taken from the knotty area near the trunk of the tree that is noted for its handsome, clustered grain that appears wavy or curly – are especially coveted. Condition is excellent, with only normal use scratches on the bottom. Dimensions: 12” (30.5 cm) x 10” (25.5 cm) x 3” (7.6 cm) high. | ||||||||||||||
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