TEA TRAY, With ajiro design, Taisho–Showa Period (1912–1989 CE)

A sencha tray woven in the ajiro pattern from finely split bamboo. The neat, precise weave gives a refined surface, and the tray’s dimensions are well suited to holding a few tea vessels.

This piece was long used in a sencha household; the corner slats bear scuffs and a polished sheen from repeated handling, and the bamboo weave has matured to a subdued amber. Its soft expression is the result of prolonged practical use.

With its unadorned construction, it sets off a variety of vessels—pewter, white porcelain, and plain wood—and blends naturally into the setting of a sencha tea gathering.