Traditional Japanese Carved Ash Tray – Natural Urushi Lacquer Finish
I hesitate to use the word traditional when describing this tray, but the fact is the design is far from my own. I’ve seen trays with this design in countless variation made by craftspeople in Japan. The corner shape with indented corners is one you often see in traditional architecture on window frames and roof beams. It’s a pleasing design, and one that I have wanted to emulate for some time.
Carved from one piece of wood
Most of the wood bowls, trays, and plates that I make are turned on the lathe making the process relatively simple to rough out the finished shape. Rectangular trays like this are much more work. I still use power tools to rough out the shape, but much more hand carving work is require to refine and finish the surface. The beauty of carving a tray like this out of a solid piece of wood is you have complete freedom over the shape. (The corner design would be difficult to achieve with a tray made of multiple pieces of wood.) In addition the wood grain flows continuously throughout the piece.
About Urushi Lacquer
Urushi lacquer is a natural finish that comes from the sap of urushi trees. Urushi sap contains a chemical compound called urushiol; the same chemical that gives poison ivy it’s bad reputation. In a liquid state urushi lacquer can cause severe reactions in people allergic to urushiol. However once fully cured, the urushiol becomes inert and safe to handle.
Urushi sap is harvested and processed to remove impurities. Once applied, urushi requires a humid environment to properly cure. After being applied to a wooden bowl or other tableware we place our urushi ware in a muro; a temperature and humidity controlled box. After a few days the urushi dries and becomes safe to handle.
Urushi is strong against acids, alkali, alcohol, and has a high temperature resistance. These strengths have made urushi lacquer a traditional finish for daily use on soup bowls, spoons, cups, etc. in Japan and China for hundreds of years.
