Takamakie (or "raised maki-e") is one of the three major techniques in maki-e making. Developed in the Muromachi Period (1336–1573), the technique of takamakie involves building up design patterns above the surface through a mixture of metal powder, lacquer and charcoal or clay dust. Thus the rooster in this design appears to emerge from the surface, surrounded by bamboo and delicately blown gold lacquer clouds above.
To create different colours and textures, maki-e artists use a variety of metal powders including gold, silver, copper, brass, lead, aluminum, platinum, pewter, as well as their alloys. Bamboo tubes and soft brushes of various sizes are used for laying powders and drawing fine lines. As it requires highly-skilled craftsmanship to produce a maki-e painting, young artists usually go through many years of training to develop the skills and to ultimately become maki-e masters. This tray has some slight losses on one corner. It nonetheless retains it's ethereal beauty as a salute to lacquer-making during the Meiji period in Japan.
The tray measures 10 inches square, and the surface is surrounded by a 1/2 inch lip, with curved corners. It rests on 7/8 inch high legs, and measures a total of 1 5/8 inches high.