A marble tray is a shallow vessel carved from a single block of stone, used to hold small objects in one place: perfume and jewelry on a vanity, keys and cards at the entry, rings and earrings on a nightstand, a candle and a pair of glasses on a coffee table, olives and salt at the dining table. In this guide, a piece is called a tray when it is flat and wide, a catchall when it has walls deep enough to contain what is dropped into it, and a dish when it is small enough for one hand. All three are cut from solid stone, and some are also made in brass or aluminum; each piece is finished by hand by a team of artisans in Rajasthan, India.
This guide covers what the forms are, how to choose among them by size and by room, how marble and travertine behave in daily use, and how the pieces are made. Prices below are current on the Trays & Catchalls collection.
Tray, catchall, and dish are three different objects
The distinction is depth, and depth determines use.
A tray is flat or nearly flat, with a low lip. It presents what sits on it. The 512 Tray, 12 by 5 inches with a scalloped edge, is a tray: long enough to line up three perfume bottles, shallow enough that each one reads.
A catchall has walls. It contains rather than presents, which is what you want by a door or on a desk, where objects arrive fast and unsorted. The Miles Catch, 7 inches square with deep walls, is a catchall.
A dish is small and single-purpose. A ring dish sits on a nightstand and holds what comes off the hands at the end of the day. The Teo Catch, 5.5 inches square, and the Mini Contour Bowl, under 4 inches across, are dishes.
The forms, compared
We make a limited number of forms and repeat them across stones. The form determines the silhouette; the stone determines the color and the veining, and no two blocks yield the same result.
| Form | Shape | Size | Depth | From | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 512 Tray | Scalloped rectangle | 12 × 5 in | Flat | $210 | Vanity tray · Desk catchall · Perfume line-up |
| 810 Tray | Scalloped rectangle, recessed dish | 10 × 8 in | Shallow well | $265 | Vanity tray · Coffee table tray · Desk catchall |
| Sun Tray | Scalloped round | 8 in | Shallow | $230 | Vanity tray · Jewelry dish · Gifting |
| Box Tray | Scalloped square | 8 in | Shallow | $255 | Vanity tray · Entry catchall |
| Flo Tray | Organic, free-form | 9 in | ½ in | $255 | Vanity tray · Coffee table catchall |
| Juliet Tray | Rectangle, rope edge | 9.5 × 7 in | Shallow | $200 | Vanity tray · Serving tray |
| Contour Bowl | Wave-cut edge | 6 in | Bowl | $245 | Nuts and olives · Jewelry dish |
| Athens Catch (Small) | Tiered square | 6 in | 1.5 in | $325 | Ring dish · Nightstand · Small objects |
| Albers Catch | Stepped square | 7 in | Deep walls | $290 | Entry catchall · Keys · Desk objects |
| Teo Catch | Square, softened edges | 5.5 in | Shallow | $148 | Ring dish · Nightstand · Vanity |
| Mini Sun Scoop | Scalloped round, scooped well | 5 in | Scooped | $160 | Ring dish · Bedside catchall |
| Mini Box Catch | Scalloped square | 5.5 in | Shallow | $160 | Ring dish · Bedside catchall |
| Chain Tray | Round, chain-link border | 12 in | 2.75 in | $688 | Serving tray · Table centerpiece |
| XL Olli Tray | Round | 10 in | Shallow | $445 | Serving tray · Entertaining |
| Paul Tray | Square, stone inlay | 11 in | Scooped | $430 | Vanity tray · Serving tray · Display |
| Roma Tray | Crest, cast metal | 10 × 8 in | Shallow | $195 | Catchall · Vanity tray (decorative use) |
The Trays & Catchalls collection runs to more than seventy pieces in stone and metal, along with a few vintage glass pieces. The Cord Collection — Juliet, Natalie, Hannah, Sam, Benji, Mason, Jordana, La Corda Piattina — carries a twisted rope edge cut directly into the stone rather than applied to it.
Where each form belongs
Size is the first thing to decide. A tray that is too small disappears under what it holds; one that is too large stops reading as an object and becomes a surface. The sizes below are the ones that work in each setting.
| Where it goes | What it holds | Size that works | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom vanity | Perfume, soap, brushes, rings | 8–12 in long | 512 · 810 · Sun · Daniela |
| Nightstand | Rings, earrings, a watch | 4–6 in | Teo · Mini Sun Scoop · Benji · Maddi |
| Entry or console | Keys, cards, sunglasses | 7–9 in, with walls | Albers · Miles · Ty · Box |
| Desk | Clips, cards, a pen | 5–8 in | Nico · Clio · Domino |
| Coffee table | A candle, a lighter, matches | 9–12 in | Flo · 810 · XL Olli |
| Dining table | Salt, olives, nuts, bread | 6–12 in, with a well | Contour Bowl · Maddi · Chain · Pasqua Bowl |
| Gifting | One object, packed to travel | 5–8 in | Sun · Teo · Mini Box |
How marble and travertine behave
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of calcite, calcium carbonate, recrystallized under heat and pressure. It sits around 3 on the Mohs scale, which makes it soft enough to carve by hand and soft enough to mark. Calcite reacts with acid: lemon, wine, vinegar, and some perfumes will etch the polish, leaving a dulled area where the surface has been chemically altered rather than stained.
Travertine is a freshwater limestone formed at mineral springs, where dissolved calcium carbonate precipitates out of the water and traps gas as it sets. The pitting characteristic of travertine is that trapped gas. It is a feature of the material's formation, not a flaw in the finishing.
We treat the marks that come with use as part of living with stone. A tray that has held perfume for two years shows where the bottles stood. Sealing slows this; a coaster prevents it. Neither is required. A fuller account of each stone is in the materials guide, and the handling detail is in the care guide.
How the trays are made
Each stone piece is cut from a single block rather than assembled, apart from inlaid and two-stone pieces such as the Paul Tray and the Domino Tray. Machines rough out the dimensions; the form, the edge profile — scalloped, rope, stepped, contoured — and the finish are worked by hand. Metal pieces are cast or machined, then finished by hand. We work mostly in India's native stones, available locally to the atelier in Rajasthan. A small team also scours India for rare and unique stones, many of them remnants.
Because the form is subtractive and the block is natural, veining lands differently in every piece. We hand-select stone to keep color and pattern close, but two 512 Trays in Cherry Gold will never match exactly. Rare Earth is our one-of-a-kind line, cut from the rarest stones we find, many of them remnants; when one of those stones runs out, the piece is not made again.
Production runs in limited editions. Custom dimensions, custom stone selection, and private-label production are available through custom orders, with program detail for trade, hospitality, and corporate gifting.
Caring for a stone tray
Wipe with a soft cloth and warm water. Use a pH-neutral cleaner if one is needed. Avoid vinegar and citrus-based cleaners, which etch calcite, and abrasive powders, which scratch it. Clean spills of wine, juice, and perfume promptly if you want to keep the surface close to new. Hand-clean only; stone does not belong in a dishwasher, and a tray is not a cutting board. Lift a tray from underneath rather than by its edge.
Cast brass and aluminum pieces are made for decorative use only, not for food or drink. Unlacquered brass is a living finish and will move from gold toward honey and brown with handling.
Frequently asked questions
What is a marble tray used for?
Holding small objects in one place. The most common uses are a vanity tray for perfume and jewelry, an entry catchall for keys and cards, a ring dish on a nightstand, a coffee table tray for a candle and matches, a desk catchall, and a serving tray for olives, salt, or bread.
What is the difference between a tray and a catchall?
Depth. A tray is flat or nearly flat and presents what sits on it. A catchall has walls deep enough to contain objects dropped into it, which suits an entry or a desk.
What size marble tray should I buy?
For a bathroom vanity, 8 to 12 inches long. For a nightstand ring dish, 4 to 6 inches. For an entry catchall, 7 to 9 inches with walls. For a coffee table, 9 to 12 inches.
Are Anastasio Home trays carved from a single block of stone?
Yes. Each stone piece is cut and carved from one block, so the form and its edge profile are worked out of the same continuous stone. The exceptions are inlaid and two-stone pieces, such as the Paul Tray and the Domino Tray. Metal trays are cast or machined, then finished by hand.
Where are Anastasio Home trays made?
They are designed in our Connecticut studio and made by a team of artisans at a dedicated atelier in Rajasthan, India, where every piece is finished by hand.
Will my tray look exactly like the photograph?
No. Stone is natural, and veining, color depth, and mineral movement differ from block to block. We hand-select stone to keep color and pattern close, but two pieces of the same form in the same stone will never match exactly.
Can marble trays be used with food?
Yes. Acidic foods and drinks may stain or etch the surface over time. We regard those marks as part of living with natural stone. Seal the piece or use a coaster if you prefer to keep it closer to new. Metal pieces are for decorative use only, not for food or drink.
Can I put a hot pan or hot dish on a marble tray?
No. Use a trivet. Thermal shock can crack stone.
How do I clean a marble tray?
A soft cloth and warm water, with a pH-neutral cleaner if needed. Avoid vinegar, citrus cleaners, and abrasives. Hand-clean only; never use a dishwasher.
What is the difference between etching and staining?
Staining is a discoloration absorbed into the stone. Etching is a chemical reaction in which acid dissolves a shallow layer of calcite, dulling the polish. Etching changes the surface; staining changes the color.
Why is travertine pitted?
Travertine forms at mineral springs, where gas is trapped in the calcium carbonate as it sets. The pitting is the record of that gas and is characteristic of the material.
Does a marble tray need to be sealed?
No. Sealing is your choice, based on how you use the tray. It slows staining and slightly delays etching.
What is a ring dish?
A small dish, usually 4 to 6 inches, kept on a nightstand or beside a sink to hold rings, earrings, and a watch. The Teo Catch at 5.5 inches and the Mini Sun Scoop at 5 inches are two forms sized for it.
What are Rare Earth pieces?
Rare Earth is our one-of-a-kind line, cut from the rarest stones we find, many of them remnants. When one of those stones runs out, the piece is not made again.
Do you make marble trays in custom sizes?
Yes. Custom dimensions, custom stone selection, engraving, and private-label production are available. Details are on the custom orders page.
Do you work with interior designers and hotels?
Yes. There is a trade program for designers specifying objects on client projects and a hospitality program for hotels and restaurants sourcing amenity trays, guest-room accessories, and tabletop. Guidance is in the designer's guide and the hotel sourcing guide.
Are marble trays a good corporate gift?
Yes. A carved stone object holds a logo engraving well and does not date. Volume, lead time, and engraving detail are covered in the corporate gifting guide.
How long does a made-to-order piece take?
Made-to-order pieces are made after the order is placed and take 4–8 weeks, depending on stone availability. Ready-to-ship pieces ship in 3–5 business days.