Trays like these are found in Buddhist alcoves in a house. A large alcove, which requires a large room to house it, is needed to accommodate a tray of this size. These days it is very rare to see large alcoves and as such, larger trays like these have become obsolete.
The lacquer applied is called Shunkei-Nuri, wherein a yellow-ish brown glaze is thinly applied onto the wooden surface, before being finished with a transparent lacquer. This preserves the feel of the wood, keeping the grain slightly visible under a glossy finish.
While its usage in a Buddhist alcove is something of the past, its beautiful design and undeniable quality stand unaffected by the test of time. There are endless possibilities for such objects of timeless beauty to fulfill new roles and reside alongside us in the modern day.