Guides & care
Choosing a lacquer tray: size, base and finish
Trays are the most-bought piece of lacquerware and the easiest to get wrong. A few questions before buying will find you a tray for daily use rather than one that only sits on a shelf.
A good lacquer tray comes down to three things: a size that suits what you mean to do with it, a base that is stable enough, and a finish that matches how hard it will be used.
Size
- Tea tray, 30–36 cm: holds a pot and four cups
- Dining tray, 40–50 cm: carries two soup bowls and a few small dishes
- Display tray, 20–28 cm: on a coffee table for keys, candles, small things
A low rim looks better but is hard to carry when loaded; a rim over three centimetres with cut-out handles is the practical choice for a tray used at meals.
The base inside
A natural wood base such as jackfruit or magnolia is the traditional way, light and warm in the hand, but it needs careful priming so it does not warp with the seasons. An engineered wood base is more stable and cheaper, and suits large trays. Pressed bamboo is very strong but heavy. Asking what the base is made of is the first question worth putting to a seller.
Finish
A mirror gloss feels luxurious but shows every scratch; a satin finish hides them better and suits everyday use. Gold painting sits under the clear top coat and lasts; raised decoration or eggshell inlay on the inside of the tray is better kept for trays that will rarely be scrubbed.
If in doubt, choose a rectangular tray with a medium rim, satin finish, in vermilion or black. It is the tray we make most of, and the one that comes back least.
