Shi Tea Tray

Shi Tea Tray

Shi Tea Tray is an innovative furniture design that exemplifies the harmonious fusion of natural materials and functional aesthetics in contemporary tea culture. Created by designers Gang Wang and Guokun Wang, this sophisticated tea preparation surface represents a significant advancement in traditional tea ceremony implements through its ingenious dual-layer construction comprising a natural stone disk and aluminum chassis. The design's distinguishing feature is its masterfully executed tapering center line that divides the surface into two distinct functional zones: a flat dry area for tea set placement and a gradually concaving wet area for efficient water management. This thoughtful segregation of spaces, achieved through a precise 1.6-centimeter height differential, demonstrates exceptional attention to user experience and practical functionality. The tray's dimensions of 140mm width, 600mm depth, and 40mm height are carefully calculated to provide optimal utility while maintaining elegant proportions. The manufacturing process combines advanced technological methods, including CNC machining, water knife cutting, and sandblasting for the stone component, while the aluminum chassis undergoes die drawing and matte painting treatments. This award-winning design, recognized with a Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, showcases remarkable innovation in addressing common tea ceremony challenges through its intuitive water management system, where the strategic positioning of the drainage point at the concave surface's lowest point enables users to monitor water levels visually, facilitating timely maintenance and cleaning of the water storage pan.

tea ceremony, natural stone design, functional aesthetics, water management, contemporary furniture, minimalist design

— Adam Dawson