large wooden serving tray - antique japanese folk art

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

Bring timeless beauty and refined craftsmanship into your home with this very large antique tea tray - a striking piece perfect for tea ceremonies or as a unique decorative accent. Hand-carved from a single cross-section of high-quality zelkova (keyaki) wood, this tray seamlessly blends function and artistry, making it a standout addition to any setting.

Keyaki is one of Japan’s most revered hardwoods, valued for its strength, density, and richly grained texture. Traditionally used in fine furniture and tea accessories, its durability and visual appeal make it ideal for both everyday use and special occasions. This particular tray, originally designed for serving tea at sencha ceremonies, features a raised rim to prevent items from slipping, and a subtly elevated base that adds an elegant lift to its presentation.

The smooth finish highlights the natural grain and deep patina acquired over time, offering a warm, rustic character that speaks to its history and use. While the tray is in very good vintage condition with no cracks, its handmade nature means there are minor irregularities and a slight wobble - charming reminders of its artisanal origins and part of its authentic mingei (folk craft) aesthetic.

Not just limited to tea service, this versatile piece can also be used as a display stand - perfect for grounding a curated arrangement on a low table or as a dramatic base for a seasonal flower installation or sculptural vase.

A beautiful blend of utility, heritage, and design - this antique tea tray brings a touch of wabi-sabi elegance to any home.

- measures 49.5 cm (19.5” ) in diameter x  5.5 cm (2.2”) high.
- weighs 2,000 gm.

(listing for tea tray only)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our shipping notes in shipping policy.
- we use recycle packaging and wrap for safety, rather than appearance.

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

SENCHADO
Senchado is a way of drinking Japanese tea that is different from the more well known Chado. Chado uses powdered green tea and Senchado uses Japanese tea leaves and hot water kept at a precise temperature. Chado, using different kinds of utensils and a different sequence of movements for making tea, was popular as an education among the samurai. On the other hand Senchado spread from experts in poetry, literature, painting, calligraphy and down to the general public by enjoying a conversation over a cup of tea.

Sencha tea was first created in Japan around 1740. The tea was inspired by loose leaf tea from China, but created using local Japanese plants. A priest, Gekkai Genshō, is credited with introducing Sencha in the capital city of Kyoto and beyond. He’s often called Baisao or ‘old tea seller.’ In his mid-forties, he left his temple and made his living selling this new type of tea. He was an interesting character, and even wrote poetry about it.

“Seventy years of Zen got me nowhere at all, shed my black robe,  became a shaggy crank, now I have no business with sacred or profane, just simmer tea for folks and hold starvation back.”

Shortly after Baisao introduced Sencha to Japan, the Senchado ceremony was created. One of the unique things about Senchado is that it's very much an oral tradition, passed down from teacher to student and its hard to find any manuals on how to perform it. 

Senchado is a more simple and relaxed form of enjoying tea. A small teapot with no handle, a small water cooler, very small tea cups and a tray are used. Participants often drink two cup of the high grade, brewed  gyokuro tea leaves.

Although there are  differences in the utensils, manners and histories between Senchado and Chado they are the same in terms of treating guests sincerely and having them enjoy drinking tea. Not only are you able to quench your thirst but also calm your mind and develop a sensitive  and harmonious spirit.

MINGEI
Mingei are the tools and utensils that were used daily by the common people in Japan. They were inexpensive, simple and functional. Usually produced by hand, in large quantities, their artists were anonymous. They became representative of the local area where they were produced.

The word Mingei combines “min” meaning common people and “gei” meaning art - the art of the common people. It was coined by the Japanese philosopher  Sōetsu Yanagi. He found beauty in ordinary crafts for daily use and argued that true beauty could be found only in the objects made by unknown people, in a spirit of selfless innocence and in close harmony with nature.