This is a handmade Chinese lacquer wet tea brewing tray, finished in black, red, and gold rhino skin lacquer (Xipi, 犀皮漆), from the Yi Series by HFDlacquerware (禾丰鼎). At 24" × 8.3" and 1.8" deep, it is built for wet-style gongfu brewing: pour freely over the pot and cups, and a drainage outlet carries the spilled tea away.

In the Yi Series (low relief), the groundwork is built low, so the colors move together as flow rather than dramatic relief. Layer upon layer of natural raw lacquer (生漆) is applied by hand, then ground back until the pattern surfaces, so no two trays are alike. It arrives in a gift box and makes a considered gift for someone who takes their tea practice seriously.

Red and gold run through the black like embers under ash, warm without ever burning. Rinse the cups, warm the pot, and let the tea spill where it will.

Also available: see the Rhino Skin Wet Tea Brewing Trays in Black & Gold and Black & Red.