Art Nouveau Ceremonial Tea Tray in Exotic Wood and Brass, Vietnam

Delightful tea ceremony tray in exotic wood enhanced by remarkable chased brass work, with acanthus leaf friezes.

Period : Early 20th Century – Art Nouveau
Dimensions: Height: 12cm x Length: 41cm x Width: 31cm

The art of tea is a difficult one, from the choice of tea itself, its preparation, the action of boiling the water, brewing it, distributing it in the cups to let all the aroma escape, to the moment when you sit down and savour its quintessence with measured gestures, with all your senses and all your soul.

Since time immemorial, the Vietnamese have known how to flavour their tea with numerous species of flowers: lotus, jasmine, chloranthes, chrysanthemums, etc. Combining the scent of tea with floral fragrances, they are able to enjoy all the fragrances of heaven and earth. 

Each flower gives the tea its own special aroma, but the most original is the lotus. 
On the lotus pond, in the evening, in a small boat, you approach the flowers and insert a small tea bag inside each one, soaking up all the scents and vital forces of the flower.