Handcrafted Coconut Bowl

Handcrafted Coconut Bowl. Jamaica. 20th Century.

This handcrafted bowl from Jamaica is made from a repurposed coconut shell. The bowl’s rough texture, hemispherical shape, and visible wear reflect its origins and frequent use.

In Jamaican households, coconut has been used in a matter of ways beyond their culinary use. Al parts of the coconut are used, including their milk, oil, and flesh used in dishes and their shells have historically served as serving vessels, scoops, and even floor-polishing tools, demonstrating the versatility of natural materials in everyday life.

The use of coconut, calabash or gourd shells as serving bowls is spread throughout the world.