Decorative bamboo trays: discover their manufacturing secrets

Trays are essential items. Both useful and decorative, they are ideal for breakfast, afternoon tea or aperitif. And when they are traditionally handcrafted and tell a story, trays have a special place in our interior design.

At Bali Bazaar, the decorative bamboo trays are 100%artisanalandethical. Our trays are hand-woven and they are decorated with unique patterns. We tell you more about their manufacturing secrets as well as about theartisan who makes them. Zen attitude andauthentic mindset guaranteed !

Bamboo trays: an ancestral Indonesian tradition

It’s a must-see. For those who have had the chance to travel to Indonesia and in particular to Bali, you will inevitably have the image of woven bamboo trays and the memory of the delicious smell of incense that goes with it … Whether on a beautiful wooden table, on a nicely decorated wall or in the street near a temple, bamboo trays are part of the daily life of the Balinese.

In Indonesia, there are a multitude of bamboo decorative objects: lampshades, furniture, boxes and cases, handbags and baskets, but also and above all, serving and decorative trays. Bamboo is a plant from South East Asia. Ecological, it grows naturally in Indonesia and is also cultivated there. If you want to learn more about bamboo and all its virtues, do not hesitate to consult our article dedicated to bamboo and entitled “Passion Bambou”

The making of bamboo trays with our craftsman Madé

Let’s meet Madé and his small independent family business. Madé and his family have been working with bamboo and making decorative objects for several generations. From the bamboo harvest to the final decoration of the objects, including shaping and traditional weaving… Everything is done by hand.

Madé’s workshop is located in his family home. He works in his garden, in a peaceful atmosphere overlooking a valley filled with breathtaking coconut palms. We take you north to Ubud, the spiritual capital of Bali. Ubud is a sacred city filled with history, located in the center of the island. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city, its markets, museums and art galleries behind and head north ! It is here, between rice fields and steep ravines that you will find the path that leads to Mount Kintamani, the roof of Bali. What a journey ! What an adventure ! As the path rises, the temperatures decrease, the jungle becomes more lush and nature takes over.
It is in this exceptional setting that you will meet Madé and his 100% family business for over 30 years. For Bali Bazaar, Madé makes Balinese trays in woven bamboo and decorated by hand.

Manufacturing steps

It all starts with the harvest and preparation of bamboo for the manufacture of decorative objects. After cutting, bamboo is cleaned, dried and naturally treated to optimize its strength and longevity. It is after this essential step that the expert hands of Madé begin to weave the bamboo stems. The woven bamboo forms the bottom of the tray. The edges are made from a single bamboo rod, flexible enough to form a perfect circle. Bamboo is an ideal material for creations that are both light and extremely resistant. Once the structure of the tray has been made, Madé can start decorating it. This is when the magic happens !

Focus on the traditional decoration of woven bamboo trays

Madé masters his art ! It only takes a few marks drawn in pencil to start decorating the trays. Sitting cross-legged in his garden, Madé prepares little pouches filled with paint. Depending on the model, the paint is black or white. He wedges the tray between his knees, cuts the pouch to let the paint flow and… let’s go for the decoration without any model ! No mistake allowed. It’s fascinating to watch him perform these gestures and see the pattern appear on the tray. Everything is done by hand and in one go. Each piece is unique. The patterns chosen by Madé are generally traditional Balinese designs. Mandalas, flowers, Buddha… But also a Balinese mask specially designed for Bali Bazaar. This dragon head is a representation of the famous ogo-ogo, the demons existing in Hindu beliefs.

Natural and authentic trays for a zen and ethnic interior

Bali Bazaar woven bamboo trays tell a story. These are unique pieces, made entirely by hand by an exceptional craftsman. You won’t find these models anywhere else!

Among the various uses of Bali Bazaar bamboo trays:

• Service: for tea, breakfasts and all your indoor and outdoor receptions !
• Decoration: on a table or simply displayed on a pretty piece of furniture, these unique trays bring an exotic and authentic touch to any interior style
• Wall decoration: get inspired from Balinese decorations and display these exceptional pieces on the walls. Our models are delivered with appropriate fasteners.

Zen attitude. Authentic mindset. Natural and exotic touch. Bring the boho-chic touch into your interior.

An ecological, ethical and sustainable collection

For all of its collections, Bali Bazaar supports a community of independent artisans with unique know-how. Our team has met and selected, for you, men and women who continue to bring traditional craftsmanship and ancestral manufacturing methods to life.

Bali Bazaar is committed to promoting the use of natural products. We limit the use of plastic in all of our products and do not use any animal products. We keep this line of conduct also in our delivery and packaging solutions. Our stock is located in France. We optimize our shipments from Indonesia. In addition, our packaging materials are recycled, recyclable or compostable.

In addition to supporting a community of independent artisans, we donate 1% of our profits to associations in Indonesia. Find out more on our site by clicking here.

Visit our Shop to explore our collection of bamboo trays handcrafted by our amazing artisan Madé. Color, pattern, size… The choice is yours !