Vintage Japanese Hand Crafted Wood Hida Shunkei Lacquer Ozen Tray W/ Box

This is a vintage Japanese kashizara serving tray with original presentation box. This is a type of serving tray known as an ozen. It ismade of Hida Shunkei lacquer ware and hand crafted in Gifu prefecture in the mid 1960's. This type of natural lacquer ware has been famous in Japan for centuries. What makes Hida Shunkei lacquer ware so special is the way that the beauty of the surface of the wood is brought out by the application of a transparent coating of lacquer. It is produced by a special method from raw natural lacquer and used to coat the wood. The technique is still used today in the making of many household items such as trays (like this one), boxes of may kinds, as well as tea ceremony items. There are some 95 firms employing over 250 skilled specialists, 31 of which are nationally recognized as Master Craftsmen.  As seen in picture 10, this tray is using wooden pin construction throughout.

It is made of cryptomeria wood with over 20 coats of Japanese special natural urushi lacquer. Having been in storage and protected by its original presentation box for over 50 years and never used, this ozen tray remains like new (never used) and in excellent condition. 

This kashizara ozen tray measures 16 1/2" long by 10 3/4" wide by in diameter by 1" tall (42 x 27 x 2.5 cm). The original presentation box measures 12 x 17".

Please note: the ceramic tea ware in the first picture are not included in this listing but can be seen in a current sailerking listing.