Red & Black lacquerware collection MARU SHIROSAGI

red tray with a white rabbit
This tray possesses a double dose of good luck; in Japan, red is a lucky colour and the rabbit is a lucky animal. A durable serving tray, it is also an attractive decorative piece. This very affordable item also makes a great gift for any occasion. Also included is a wooden stand giving you the option to proudly display your piece.

Details:

  • Excellent multi-purpose serving tray or placed as a decorative piece
  • Wood base, hand painted and sprayed with a special lacquered paint from Takaoka, the second largest city in the Japanese prefecture of Toyama (traditionally known for its bronzeware).
  • A delicate white rabbit hand painted and made of shell is placed in the center of the tray. (Rabbits are a very lucky animal in Japan and carry a positive spirit.)
  • Also included is a wooden stand giving you the option to proudly display your piece.
  • Very light yet durable and strong – made to last for years
  • Preferably hand wash only although dishwasher safe
  • Do not microwave
  • Diameter: 21.2cm (8.3″) ; Height: 1.6cm (0.6″) ; Weight 220g (7.7 ounces)
A word on Urushi

Japanese lacquerware, broadly known as “urushi” (pronounced “oorooshe”), is often red or black. The trademark Urushi deep black is achieved through a process that involves the use of iron powder. Pigments like vermillion are added to produce the classic vivid orange-red colour that was originally used to decorate pottery and preserve the bones of royalty.

Black and red lacquerware is often decorated with “maki-e”; gold, silver or other coloured powders are sprinkled onto the wet urushi. In Japanese, maki means “sprinkling” and the “e” means “picture”. Thus, in combination, “sprinkling pictures”.
With origins that date back 9,000 years, Urushi is one of the world’s most durable natural lacquers. Urushi dries or hardens by absorbing moisture from the air. When hardened, urushi is waterproof, protecting objects from heat, salt, mould and all types of weather exposure.

Thanks to its magnificent, natural beauty and remarkable strength, Urushi has become an intrinsic symbol of Japanese culture.