Rattan Serving Tray 35cm

A square handwoven rattan tray, thirty-five centimetres on each side and six deep, with a handle worked into two opposite edges. The depth is the useful part: most decorative trays are too shallow to carry anything safely, whereas this one has enough of a lip to hold mugs, a cafetiere and a plate without everything sliding towards the front on the way up the stairs.

Rattan suits this job because it is light for its size and warm to the touch, so the tray is comfortable to carry even when it is full. The weave is tight across the base and looser around the sides, which keeps the structure rigid while showing the material. Left on a coffee table with a candle and a couple of books on it, it works just as well as a styling piece.

Natural rattan is hand-finished, so the light brown tone varies a little from piece to piece and small irregularities in the weave are part of the material rather than a fault. Wipe it with a barely damp cloth and dry it immediately; do not soak the tray or put it in a dishwasher. Keep it away from radiators and direct sunlight, both of which will dry the fibres out and make them brittle.

• Material: handwoven natural rattan
• Dimensions: 35 x 35 x 6cm
• Two integral handles on opposite edges
• Handcrafted, so tone and weave vary slightly between pieces
• Wipe with a barely damp cloth; not dishwasher safe and do not soak
• Keep away from radiators and prolonged direct sunlight