TWO TRAY ShikakuL Paper Tray / TAISEI

• Dimensions: W20.5 × D13.5 × H1.6 cm
• Material: Paper
• Construction: Two-layer laminated paper, haribako (pasted-box) technique
• Paper Origin: 200-year-old papermill, southern Germany (foot of the Alps)
• Coating: Patented water-repellent finish, stain-resistant
• Colors: Camel × Indigo, Beige × White, Gray × Light Gray
• Packaging: Nylon poly bag, individual
• Awards: JIDA MUSEUM SELECTION vol.22, DIA International Design Award 2022

TWO TRAY takes its name literally: two sheets of specially sourced paper are constructively laminated to form a rigid, beautiful tray with depth and structural integrity that single-sheet paper could never achieve. The paper itself comes from a mill with over 200 years of history situated at the foot of the Alps in southern Germany, where production water flows directly from the mountains under government permission. The resulting sheets carry a richness of color that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

The forming process relies on haribako, a Japanese craft tradition of building three-dimensional shapes by layering and pasting paper, historically used in decorative boxes and lacquerware bases. Applied here at a production level, it lets the tray hold its form without any metal, plastic, or adhesive armature.

The water-repellent coating is where the engineering gets unusual. Rather than a standard industrial treatment, TAISEI developed a patented process that sits on the surface of the paper fibers without penetrating them. The texture, color, and feel of the paper remain unchanged. The same technology is used in ceremonial garments for the Imperial Family and on the decorative floats of Kyoto's Gion Festival, where appearance and longevity under variable conditions are both non-negotiable. The result is a tray that handles a wet ring from a glass or a dusting of confectioner's sugar without staining.