A Squircle Tray, although I’m sure my mother would have called it square. It was carved by my mother while she lived in Okinawa as a birthday present for my father, hence it’s signed “Benny 1956”. While researching the lacquer finish, I learnt that these were done in the Negoro lacquerware style with a red layer over laying a black layer. This is done with intention that the red layer would gradually wear to reveal some of the black underneath to help showcase its contours and texture. This tray certainly shows plenty of wear.

A simple rendition of traditional bamboo.