Hand-Painted Japanese Bamboo-Weave Lacquer Tray with Mount Fuji Landscape, c. 1950s

The Design

A beautifully crafted Japanese serving tray featuring a woven bamboo (ajiro) veneer beneath a warm lacquer finish, hand-painted with a tranquil landscape centered on Mount Fuji. Dark silhouettes of pine trees frame the foreground while two fishermen glide across still water, creating a composition that balances movement and stillness in the tradition of Japanese landscape painting.

Rather than concealing the natural bamboo weave, the artist allows its geometric pattern to remain visible beneath the painting, giving the tray remarkable texture and depth. The result is both functional and artistic, transforming an everyday serving tray into a decorative object that celebrates Japanese craftsmanship.

The softly aged lacquer has mellowed to a warm honey tone, allowing the mountain and landscape to appear almost suspended within the woven surface.

Condition & Provenance

Produced in Japan, likely c. 1950s, during the postwar period when lacquered bamboo serving trays became popular both domestically and for export.

Constructed from woven bamboo veneer with a clear lacquer finish and hand-painted decoration. The tray presents with light age-related wear, minor finish imperfections, and small surface marks consistent with decades of careful use. The painting remains vibrant and well preserved.

Dimensions

12 in across.

Product Details 

Why It Belongs In Your Home

This tray embodies the quiet restraint that defines much of Japanese decorative art. The woven bamboo provides warmth and texture, while the painted landscape introduces a sense of calm that feels equally at home in traditional and contemporary interiors.

Display it on a coffee table, console, kitchen shelf, or dining room as a decorative accent, or use it to serve tea, cocktails, or small bites. Its combination of natural materials and hand-painted artistry gives it a timeless presence that feels collected rather than manufactured.