Tray: Yamamichibon Urasenke Ryakubon, Shin-Nuri (Formal) Lacquer over Wood with Red Edge

This is a Ryakubon tray.  The Ryakubon tray comes in several finishes.  This finish is called shin-nuri, which means formal black, and is the most formal style of this tray.  It has multiple layers of lacquer put on it, such that the wood-grain doesn't show and the surface is shiny black.  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.