This is a handmade Chinese lacquer rectangular tray, with a raised turquoise-and-black rhino skin lacquer (Xipi, 犀皮漆) center framed by a solid black rim, on a solid Burma padauk (缅甸花梨) body, from the Chong Series by HFDlacquerware (禾丰鼎). At 14.2" × 9.8", it works on a scholar's desk, on a bar cart at home, or under a small stack of books you're currently reading.

In the Chong Series, the groundwork is built up high before the lacquer goes on, so black and turquoise rise and fall 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.

It's the kind of piece you find yourself running a finger over without meaning to. The raised texture asks to be touched, not just looked at, and the turquoise catches the light like water at the bottom of a deep, clear pool.

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