Called a cha pan in mandarin, this is a very practical accessory when making tea. For those of you who are intrigued about its intended use. Let's say most of us are accustomed to seeing such items in wood, which are commonly referred to as tea trays. This functions just like one but is designed solely to set pots or gaiwans while making tea and avoid spilling the unavoidable drops onto your table. This particular design is a perfect match to any of our purple clay teapots but will complement beautifully any item you wish to match it with. Smaller, teapot-specific chapans like this one are commonly used in the many Taiwanese ceremonial services where each individual element in the service is paired with a saucer or mat, thus preventing drops from marking the service area. To complement this item we recommend pairing your cups with saucers for an elegant, and practical, setting as well as a shui fang to receive the discarded liquids and leaves. A convenient side hole allows you to do just that while making successive services or when cleaning it. Handcrafted in Taiwan.