Tortoiseshell tray, Italy, 1750

That's incredible

Now I wonder, what was first? The shape or the metal/ ceramic tableware?

I mean, I feel like this is a very common shape for such tray. This thing looks like the material informed the shape of the tray. But maybe the shape comes from something else?

https://www.cesatiecesati.com/un-vassoio-napoletano-in-tartaruga-pique/