Lacquerware for Holiday Gatherings: From Thanksgiving to New Year

As the festive season approaches, gatherings with family and friends become the highlight of the year. Japanese lacquerware is the perfect addition to any celebratory table, offering a touch of tradition and elegance to your home.

We have carefully selected vibrant, eye-catching pieces that will become the centerpiece of conversation. Whether you are setting the table for a family reunion or a holiday party, these items will add a refined charm to your gatherings.

Lacquerware blends beautifully with simple tableware, creating a chic, modern aesthetic. By including just one of these pieces, you can bring a warm, authentic ambiance to your space, making it the ideal choice for this special time of year.

Consider creating a red and gold-themed table setting, colors that are fitting for the holiday season, by placing this jubako bento box at the center of your table. The final coating of transparent lacquer over the maki-e gives it a stunning glossy finish that stands out. As you continue to use it, the lacquer's luster deepens, making it a cherished piece that grows more personal over time.

This jubako is an excellent option for presenting dishes stylishly, whether you are preparing traditional meals or bringing food to a potluck. Its size is ideal for serving two to three people, offering both practicality and elegance for celebratory occasions.

The matching soup bowl adds a cohesive and detailed touch to your table, creating a polished presentation that will make this jubako bento box the highlight of your holiday spread, from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

For those seeking a chic and modern alternative to the traditional jubako, this box with dividers is an excellent choice for holiday gatherings. Handcrafted by artisans of Yamanaka Lacquerware, its sleek and minimalist design makes it ideal for get-togethers during the holiday season.

The box uses the traditional "wipe-lacquer" technique, which gives it a glossy yet refined finish, with the beautiful wood grain subtly visible through the black lacquer. Inside, the natural wood grain remains untouched, bringing an organic element to your table setting. The removable dividers offer versatility, also allowing you to use the box as one large serving dish, while the lid helps to keep your food fresh and clean.

Its simple yet sophisticated design pairs beautifully with both Japanese and Western cuisine.

This exquisite serving tray embodies the sophistication of traditional lacquerware, making it a perfect companion for holiday gatherings. Its deep, lustrous surface reveals a delicate interplay of texture and light—like fabric touched by time, with subtle traces of the wood beneath. Available in black or red, each tray is lacquered in multiple layers, then hand-polished until the underlying color softly emerges: the red piece shows earthy hints of black, while the black glimmers faintly with red, like dawn behind a veil.

Over the years, this living finish evolves, its colors deepening and blending, a reminder that beauty, too, can mature elegantly. Lightweight yet durable, the tray moves easily from a festive dinner setting to a serene tea break, bringing an understated sense of refinement to every moment shared.

Among the season’s gatherings, this natsume, a large tea caddy traditionally used in the tea ceremony, embodies the splendor of Japanese craftsmanship. Hand-carved from fine-grained mizume (Japanese cherry birch) and finished through layers of urushi lacquer, it glows with a depth that feels alive, as if holding the passage of time within its surface. The motif of karamatsu, or Japanese larch, unfurls across the form in delicate lines of gold and silver, a play of brilliance and restraint that speaks of longevity and renewal.

Subtle highlights of raised gold catch the light at shifting angles, giving the design a quiet movement, as though it breathes. With its gently rounded form and seamless lid, the natsume rests naturally in the hand, merging precision with grace.

It is both a vessel for tea and a reflection of enduring beauty, perfect for moments of gathering and gratitude that mark the year’s turning.

This round Aizu lacquer tray brings a refinement to the holiday table, where simplicity becomes a gesture of grace. Its surface gleams with a smooth, water-like sheen, the luminous quality unique to fine lacquerware. The red version glows with a sunlit warmth, evoking the spirit of celebration, while the black reflects a deep, composed brilliance, serene and dignified.

Perfectly sized for a single serving, it also lends itself beautifully to tea, sake, or a small arrangement of plates and bowls. Whether presenting appetizers, sushi, or delicate desserts, it frames each dish with effortless harmony. And as candlelight flickers and laughter fills the air, its soft lacquered shine seems to echo the warmth of the season, wrapping the table in the glow of festivity.

Lustrous lacquer catches the light like still water, revealing hand-painted sprays of plum blossoms in gold and silver. Each branch curves with vitality, its brown trunk rendered in graceful brushstrokes that echo the rhythm of early spring. In this small, rounded box, the spirit of renewal is held within a surface of depth and reflection, where color, texture, and craftsmanship meet in harmony.

More than a vessel for sweets, it invites a gentle pause, the small pleasure of lifting its lid, of savoring beauty before taste. Placed upon a winter table, it glows softly amid the season’s gatherings, carrying the promise of spring within the heart of celebration.

How about decorating your dining room with this beautiful folding screen for year-end celebrations? Whether placed on your table, in the entryway, or on a shelf, it effortlessly adds a hint of authentic Japanese sensibility. The theme of this screen is especially fitting for the end of the year, as you prepare to welcome the New Year.

In Japan, plum blossoms and the nightingale symbolize the arrival of spring and are often depicted in poetry and art to represent harmonious friendship. While not a common pairing in nature, the vibrant red plum blossoms and bright green nightingale (the actual bird is gray) create a striking and beautiful scene—a wonderful choice for seasonal décor.

Crafted from durable wood resin and synthetic lacquer, this screen is resistant to sunlight and water, ensuring it retains its beauty for many years to come.

Inspired by the neck of a crane, its slender silhouette adds a sense of serene beauty without taking up too much space, just right for placing at the edge of a dining table. The rich color, transitioning from black to red, evokes the deep hues of wine.

The lacquer’s delicate, glossy finish reflects light from all angles, giving the vase a glass-like appearance. A removable glass tube inside makes it easy to arrange flowers, while the felt-padded base prevents scratches and water rings, ensuring your table remains pristine.

Pair this vase with other lacquerware pieces to create a modern and chic table setting that celebrates the craftsmanship of Japan. Whether hosting a festive meal or a cozy gathering, this vase adds style and charm to your holiday décor.

As part of our holiday lacquerware collection, we are excited to present two exquisite pieces from the renowned Kagawa lacquerware brand, Sinra: the katakuchi sake carafe and guinomi sake cup. These pieces combine traditional craftsmanship with a modern metallic finish, featuring black lacquer accented with tin powder for a sleek texture. The surface’s subtle ridges offer a comfortable grip and a soft touch.

The sake carafe ensures smooth pouring and comes with a lid to preserve the sake’s delicate aroma. The guinomi sake cup, with its wide rim, enhances the sake’s aroma and flavor, while its lightweight design offers a comfortable, refined drinking experience.

Both items showcase Sinra's craftsmanship, combining attention to detail, durability, and texture, elevating your seasonal celebrations while enjoying Japanese sake.

Elevate your holiday gatherings with the timeless charm of Japanese lacquerware. Whether serving sake or showcasing treats, these exquisite pieces will turn your table into a conversation starter. From Thanksgiving to New Year, add a flair of tradition and sparkle that will keep your guests talking long after the party ends.