This is a handmade Chinese lacquer rectangular tray, with a deep red rhino skin lacquer (Xipi, 犀皮漆) center framed by a solid red rim, on a solid Burma padauk (缅甸花梨) body, from the Chong Series by HFDlacquerware (禾丰鼎). At 17.7" × 9.4", it is long enough to hold a full tea set without crowding, made for the table where people actually gather, not just for display.

In the Chong Series, the groundwork is built up high before the lacquer goes on, so the deep red pattern rises and falls like terraced fields. Each Chong Series piece takes two to three years to make. The final step is done entirely by hand: kaiqing tuiguang (开清推光), polishing the surface with the palm until it reaches a soft, deep luster. The pattern forms on its own, so no two trays are alike.

Red is the color of gathering: of tea poured for guests, of tables set for someone who has come a long way. Set the cups down, and the tray does the rest.

Also available in flowing gold lacquer and in other rhino skin colors: see the Flowing Gold, Black & Gold, and Turquoise & Black versions.