A Distressed, Mended Wooden Tray: Southwest China
ca. early twentieth century
17" x 16 1/2" x 1 1/2", 43 cm x 42 cm x 3.75 cm
This is a rustic, wooden tray which comes from Southwest
China: the tray is almost-square it is distressed from years of use.
The wood is lightweight and is of a rich, brown color--it seems to have been
hand planed. The tray shows traces of a black finishing
substance--maybe lacquer--that most likely once covered the entire
surface, but now it can be seen as abraded patches, which add to its
charm.
As can be seen in the accompanying detail photos, this tray has been either assembled, mended or reinforced by the application of metal bits on the underside of the tray. Some of the nails which affix these metal mending plates to the back of the tray can be seen on the tray's surface. The mending, of course, is lovely to look at and the metal is now rusted.