Tenmukudai

Tenmukudai tray used in Japan for serving tea to special guests. Made of wood coated with Japanese urushi lacquer. This piece is delicately decorated using the maki-e technique, where a layer of fine gold dust is applied to the still-fresh lacquer; nashiji, where fine gold dust is scattered on the final layer of lacquer before it dries so the black background can still be seen; and tsukegaki, where the final gold details are painted in with a brush. Gold and silver dusts are combined to achieve different shades.
The decoration covers the entire surface with floral and cherry tree motifs. Between the foliage we can see two types of mon (family emblems). One is that used by the Tokugawa family and related lineages.
The piece has been attributed to the prestigious Kōami workshop and was probably made for the immediate environment of Shōgun Yoshimune Tokugawa (1716-45) in the early decades of the 18th century as part of a bride's dowry. This, together with the piece's delicacy and exquisiteness, makes it truly exceptional.