This handcrafted tea tray is made from solid walnut and designed as both a functional object and a piece of considered, decorative craft. The rich colour and natural grain of the walnut provide a warm backdrop for the finely detailed marquetry on the surface, which depicts the Clifton Suspension Bridge - an iconic landmark rendered through carefully selected veneers and precise handwork.
The tray features steam-bent walnut handles, shaped by hand to create a gentle, flowing curve that feels natural and comfortable to hold. Steam bending allows the wood fibres to follow the form of the handle without interruption, giving the piece both strength and elegance while reinforcing its organic character. Softly rounded edges and a carefully finished surface make the tray as tactile as it is visually refined.
While shown here with marquetry of the Bristol Clifton Suspension Bridge, the design can be fully customised with alternative landscapes or cityscapes. Meaningful locations - such as where a couple met, married, or shared a significant moment - can be translated into marquetry, turning the tray into a truly bespoke wedding gift. The same approach also lends itself beautifully to anniversary gifts, engagement presents, or one-off commissions celebrating a particular place or memory.
Each tray is made to order, allowing the composition, scale, and level of detail in the marquetry to be tailored to the client. This flexibility ensures that every piece remains personal and considered, rather than decorative for its own sake. As a bespoke wedding gift, the tray offers something lasting and functional - an object intended to be used regularly, not stored away.
Crafted with longevity in mind, the tray balances everyday practicality with narrative and sentiment. Whether used for serving tea or coffee, or simply displayed when not in use, it functions as a quiet reminder of place and occasion. The result is a piece that sits comfortably in a wide range of interiors, combining material honesty, craftsmanship, and personal meaning in a single object.
