This is a handmade Chinese lacquer dry brewing tea tray, finished in black and gold flowing gold lacquer (Liu Jin, 流金) over a wood body, by HFDlacquerware (禾丰鼎). Dry brewing is the minimalist's way of tea: no water basin, no drainage, just a clean surface for teapot and cups. Slender at 23.6" × 6.3", light and easy to move, it turns any table into a tea space, indoors or out.

Gold powder is mixed into natural raw lacquer (生漆) and dropped freely onto the surface, then left to settle into its own pattern, so no two trays are alike. On a writing desk it becomes a scholar's tray for brushes, ink stones, and seals. It arrives in a fitted gift box.

A narrow strip of black and gold, and the whole table rearranges itself around the tea.

Also available: see the other Flowing Gold Tea Trays.