This lacquered wood presentation tray (kalat) with a raised stand with many legs, is covered in red lacquer. This type of presentation tray was made in many different sizes – the largest version (known as daung –lan) for example, was at least three feet tall. Kalat were used to present ceremonial gifts to royalty and copies of Buddhist scriptures to monks. They were designed to serve food communally and would be placed on the floor for diners to gather around. A domed cover was used to keep the food fresh. Lacquer (or ‘thitsi’) was sourced from the Thitsi tree, which is found in Myanmar and the wider region, while natural ingredients were used to produce the colours such as cinnabar for red, orpiment for yellow and orpiment, indigo for green, and cinnabar and iron oxide to make black.
