Tray: Yamamichibon Urasenke Ryakubon, Lacquer over Wood with Red Edge

This is a Ryakubon tray.  The Ryakubon tray comes in several finishes.  This finish is less formal, meaning that the beautiful grain shows through the black lacquer.  The undulating rim of the tray represents a mountain-scape and is highlighted in red lacquer. 

The Ryakubon tamae is the tamae most Urasenke students start learning. As a tamae, it is somewhat abbreviated, but everything you learn from it can be used later at higher levels.