This is a medium-sized serving tray. It features contrasting colors and fairly bilateral symmetry. The tray has a large tree expanding vertically across it, with visible roots and branches. A rainbow divides the tray into two hemispheres. There is a handle on each side of the tray, and three spheres based in the roots. 

   One principle of design used is balance. The tree is relatively symmetrical and stretches across the tray, and the handles and color divisions also give a sense of balance. Another principle used is contrast. This can be observed through the varying bright and dark colors that divide the piece. There is also movement suggested by the entangling roots and branches.

   This tray is inspired by Norse mythology, specifically by the concept of the world tree Yggdrasil. In the myths, this tree holds and connects the various worlds and realms the Norse believed in. In my tray, I interpreted this as making the upper half blue to represent the home of the Aesir gods at Asgard. The lower half is green to show Midgard, the earthly home of mortals. The roots extend into various other realms like Niflheim and Jotunheim, represented by the raised spheres in my piece. The rainbow band represents Bifrost, the rainbow bridge in between realms. The handles respectively represent the Midgard serpent and the bird that lives at the top of Yggdrasil.

   I am fairly happy with how this piece turned out. It was my first attempt at using a mold, and I think it well. The theme came across clearly and the additive and subtractive details help the piece as well. However, I am not sure I like how the glazing came out on certain portions of the piece and I think if I could redo it I would focus more on the handles. I might also make the blue and green portions of the background brighter or deeper for a more cohesive look.