Japanese Kaiko-Zaru Silk Tray

Silk is known as the queen of textiles because of its unmatched structure, softness, and rich appearance. In late 19th century Japan, woven bamboo trays like this were used as platforms to harvest the silk spun by silkworms. The wide, flat trays were filled with mulberry leaves and then sprinkled with silkworm eggs where they would then hatch and spend the rest of their lives eating until they created their cocoons of silk. The tray was woven with an open work hexagonal pattern and has weathered with time, developing a rich dark brown exterior. Now we celebrate this storied object for its expert craftsmanship as a decorative object.

Some breakage to the basket weave.