Great for organizing, how to put trays and salvers to use

For carrying things and for storing them

Trays and salvers can serve all kinds of purposes, depending on how you use them.

With a tray or salver, you can carry or put things away all at once,

making them an easy item to bring into your life even if tidying up feels like a chore.

【For carrying a number of items, a spacious salver】

A salver is handy for carrying things around.

It's said that it was originally made as a kind of mat or container, used so that things wouldn't be placed directly on the ground.

A salver is made with raised edges, giving it a wide surface to hold items,

a design choice meant to allow for stable carrying.

Made the most of bamboo's natural flexibility, this is the ONE series of salvers from TEORI.

Bamboo, one of the more flexible woods, resists breaking even when bent, and this feature is put to use

in a design where a single length of bamboo wraps all the way around the salver.

The bamboo looks so refined that it almost seems artificial.

It looks striking simply left out as a piece of interior decor.

A salver has the great advantage of letting you carry many things at once.

It comes in especially handy in the kitchen and at the dining table, where there tend to be many small items like chopsticks and small plates.

The TEORI ONE Milky White Round (L), with a diameter of 40cm,

is a convenient size for carrying tableware for a large group.

Also, the fact that simply using a salver gives off a proper, formal air

may have something to do with the fact that salvers were originally used in Shinto rites and religious festivals.

For that reason, it's also worth keeping one on hand for guests.

This is the Subako Square Salver from Fujiki Denshiro Shoten.

It's a salver made using kabazaiku (cherry bark craft), a traditional craft of Akita Prefecture finished with cherry tree bark,

letting you appreciate the beautiful texture of the bark.

At about 30cm square, this square salver is an ideal size for carrying a single place setting.

Because a square salver doesn't waste space when placed on a dining table,

you can even eat your meal directly off it, using it in place of a placemat.

Also, thanks to the distinctly Japanese atmosphere unique to kabazaiku,

it can also be kept on hand with a tea set, ready to enjoy a moment of relaxation after a meal.

【Oshiki, for setting things down】

The "oshiki" is a type of dining stand that has been used since ancient times,

and it has also been used on Shinto altars as a stand for holding offerings.

While a salver is often used for carrying things, an oshiki has a flat shape without legs,

and is better known as a stand for setting things down.

This shape is said to be a remnant of the days when leaves were used in place of plates.

Besides Shinto rites, the oshiki has also been used in tea kaiseki cuisine as a dining stand for holding bowls and teacups.

The Azumaya Oshiki Walnut Oil Finish

is an oshiki of this kind, designed to be easy to use at the everyday dining table.

Compared to a typical salver, it has lower edges and a compact form,

making it convenient for setting down tableware or placing ingredients directly on it.

Made from oak, this oshiki has no unnecessary ornamentation,

and by making the most of the wood's natural grain and coloring, it blends naturally into any dining table.

On the underside of the rim, a slope called a "tatami-zuri" is added, making it thoughtfully easy to pick up.

Also, the surface is finished with natural walnut oil, which doesn't interfere with the wood's ability to breathe,

letting you enjoy watching it gradually take on more of a sheen over time.

The Azumaya Oshiki Walnut Oil Finish comes in three sizes—zenban, hangiri, and yotsugiri—each suited to different uses.

The zenban can hold a full single place setting, so it works well as a substitute for a salver,

while the hangiri is just right for holding a soy sauce dispenser, or a cup of tea with a sweet.

The yotsugiri also makes a lovely coaster substitute on a desk.

Whether with Japanese or Western tableware, its simplicity is exactly what makes it so versatile.

【Trays in a variety of materials and designs】

Now, wooden salvers aren't the only things useful for carrying items or serving as a mat.

There are also trays that, thanks to distinctive materials and designs,

have become even more practical for everyday life.

With its colorful, playful design that looks like something you'd find at a café,

the linen-coated tray from fog linenwork is a delight.

By coating linen fabric with resin,

it retains the soft, relaxed texture unique to linen in appearance,

while feeling sturdy and well-made to the touch as a tray.

Since all four sides are raised, there's no need to worry about spilled liquid running off the edges,

and being made of resin, it also resists stains and is sturdy enough to be washed in a dishwasher.

Beyond serving as a salver, the linen-coated tray can be used for all sorts of purposes,

such as storing tableware or displaying greenery.

For over 50 years specializing in the manufacture of aluminum trays and trolleys,

KEYMET was born in England.

The quality that its long history speaks to can be found throughout, in its seamless, smooth, beautiful form

and in its simple yet sturdy, easy-to-use design.

Though aluminum may seem inorganic at first glance, it pairs well with ceramics, wooden goods,

and other metal items, playing the quiet role of keeping things beautifully stored.

By making it the fixed spot for everyday small items like house keys or glasses,

It also helps prevent misplacing small items.

Desktops, too, tend to accumulate small odds and ends like pens and clips. This is another place where a tray comes in handy.

FUTAGAMI's stationery trays are made with the satisfying heft that only brass can provide.

They have a distinctive, deep texture reminiscent of antique tools, and

their color gradually changes with use.

The underside of the stationery tray is thoughtfully fitted with a non-slip surface, making it an ideal item for storing small objects.

Of course, it's not just for stationery—it's also recommended as a place to keep accessories and other small items.

When you give some thought to how you store your favorite things, you come to cherish them all the more.

[Caring for Trays and Obon (Serving Trays)]

Obon and trays used in the kitchen or at the dining table

often come into contact with moisture and grime.

For this reason, the basic care is simply to wipe them down after each use.

Also, obon and trays that are made wide

tend to collect dust if left out as part of your interior decor.

When using one to hold accessories or small items, we recommend dusting it off with a duster

and finishing with a dry wipe.

When not in use, we recommend storing them by "stacking" or "standing them upright."

Since these items tend to take up space, choosing a size that's easy to stack,

or standing them upright in a small gap, keeps them out of the way of daily life

while still letting you grab them quickly whenever you need them.