SMALL CALABASH SPOONS

View fullsize

[1,2,5]: SMALL CALABASH SPOONS
[3]: An example of a calabash ladle showing how the calabash is utilized as a material in the design of utensils of different sizes
[4]: A larger calabash ladle pours drink into a calabash bowl
[6]: A man drinks out of a large calabash bottle while smiling with his eyes closed

From: (Southern) Nigeria 🇳🇬

---

Source [1,2,5]: @britishmuseum
Source [3]: Evans Mwaniki on Shutterstock (2261958477)
Source [4]: @williamborney on Shutterstock (2312811815)
Source [6]: @root2ginger (root2ginger.co.uk)

Source notes [1,2,5]: “Calabash spoons, various sizes, undecorated, ten in number. 1907-16 (circa)”

Source notes [4]: “African traditional local drink being served from a calabash at a party”

Source notes [6]: “The calabash is made from the soft skin of the calabash fruit which is part of the gourd family. They are used widely in African and Caribbean communities…The gourds are dried and hollowed out to make containers which have a number of uses, cups. bowls, utensils, and even musical instruments.”

---

Observations: sustainable design, sustainable production, design by responding to nature, ergonomics (calabash cavity provides intuitive grip), material as beauty, material awareness, material intelligence, formal simplicity, considering how the object lives when not in use (might have been stacked, hung, or threaded together).