Small Serving Tray with Pampas Grass Design c. late 18th century

This small square serving tray, attributed to Yamamoto Shunshō VI, was made in Japan, probably in the late 19th century. It is made of lacquered wood with inlaid designs in contrasting materials. The pampas grass design is rendered in a spare, elegant style that would resonate with the aesthetics of the Japanese tea ceremony, in which trays like these were often used. Japanese art of this period was deeply intertwined with the social rituals of hospitality and domestic life. Serving trays were more than mere functional objects; they were canvases for expressing cultural values and artistic sensibilities. The design motifs employed had deep roots in Japanese culture and can be explored through historical texts, museum collections, and studies of artistic traditions. Careful art historical analysis allows us to understand how artworks reflected and shaped the social fabric of their time.