Japanese Maki-e Lacquerware Footed Soup Trays, Set of 5

Story

Created during a golden age of Japanese craft export, these trays transformed a formal meal into a poetic journey. Guests would dine on individual landscapes, sparking conversation about famous vistas, seasonal poetry, and local folklore.

Maker / Origin

While unsigned, these trays represent the highly specialized workshop system of Meiji and Taisho-era Japan. Master woodturners, lacquer-appliers, and maki-e artists worked in unison, passing down secret recipes for purifying raw urushi tree sap and grinding precious gold powders to achieve different metallic textures.

Condition & Value

The lacquer surfaces appear highly lustrous with excellent preservation of the gold maki-e. The undersides show a beautiful reddish-brown nashiji finish with minimal wear. Any small chips to the fragile corners or edges of the trays would reduce the value by 20-30%.