Vintage Japanese carved wood bon tray with sho-chiku-bai and chrysanthemum decoration, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0776-2

Vintage Japanese carved wood bon tray with sho-chiku-bai and chrysanthemum decoration, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0776-2

A handcrafted Japanese serving tray adorned with sho-chiku-bai motifs and chrysanthemum carvings -- wabi-sabi elegance for the modern home.

A bon is a traditional Japanese serving tray used to present food, tea, or ceremonial offerings with quiet dignity. This vintage Japanese craft piece takes the form of a square board with softly rounded corners, from which a circular recessed well is carved in a single fluid depression -- a construction that guided vessels to the center of the tray while framing the serving surface with a generous flat border. The border itself is richly decorated at each corner with deeply incised chrysanthemum blooms rendered in fine relief, their layered petals fanning outward with confident chisel work. Within the recessed well, the artisan has executed a sweeping sho-chiku-bai composition -- pine (sho), bamboo (chiku), and plum (bai) -- the three auspicious "friends of winter" revered in Japanese culture as symbols of resilience, integrity, and renewal. The imagery is achieved through fine incising and selective staining against a dark, warm-toned hardwood ground, producing a two-tone effect that reads clearly even as the patina has deepened with age. The overall craftsmanship is consistent with mid-Showa folk craft production, where skilled regional woodworkers continued hand-carving traditions for everyday ceremonial and domestic use.

In a modern home, this handcrafted Japanese tray makes a striking living room accent or entryway display piece -- laid flat on a coffee table to hold candles, stones, or a small bonsai dish for a wabi-sabi aesthetic centerpiece. It works equally well as a decorative catchall on a console table or sideboard, corralling keys, incense holders, or small objects with understated elegance. Its generous flat form also makes it a beautiful display base for a ceramic teapot set, lending any tea corner a sense of Japandi style. A thoughtful housewarming gift for collectors of Japanese vintage woodwork or lovers of nature-inspired decor.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Dark-stained hardwood, species uncertain -- possibly kaki (persimmon) or similar dense-grained Japanese hardwood
• Use: Traditional Japanese serving tray (bon) for food, tea, or ceremonial presentation
• Modern Use: Coffee table centerpiece with candles or small objects; decorative display base for ceramics or teaware; entryway catchall tray for a Japandi-style console
• Features: Square form with rounded corners; circular recessed serving well; deeply incised chrysanthemum motifs at each corner; sho-chiku-bai (pine, bamboo, plum) incised and stained decoration across the well surface; rich aged patina throughout
• Dimensions: 14"Diameter x 1"H
• Condition: Excellent -- consistent with age; natural surface wear, minor scratches, and patina deepen the wabi-sabi character

A rare and beautifully detailed piece of vintage Japanese craft -- the sho-chiku-bai motif and chrysanthemum carvings make this tray a lasting symbol of Japanese artistic tradition in any modern home.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.