Hand-carved Olive Wood Bowl with Batik Inlay

Artfully carved from a single piece of wild olive wood using simple hand tools by Kenyan artisans, this rustic bowl showcases the beautiful natural wood-grain enhanced by decorative bone inlay with traditional African batik design. 

Each bowl is approximately 9-10 inches in diameter.

Due to the hand-carved nature, actual size may vary by up to an inch.  Because these are made by hand using rudimentary hand tools, no two are identical and variations are to be appreciated and enjoyed

Inlay design is from highly polished and sanitized cow bone, sourced from natural causes that would have otherwise been discarded. The bone is "batiked," an age old art process used in Africa.  The patterns are applied by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone into a dark brown/black dye, resulting in the beautiful African mud cloth designs.

Care: Hand wash only. Periodically treat wood with food-grade mineral oil or olive oil to maintain their beauty and luster.

Artisan Information

Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, items are crafted from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony."

While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting items and carving discarded animal bone for inlays. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone a dark brown/black dye, resulting in African mud cloth designs.