15” x 8.5”

Hand-carved from one solid piece of wood, these breathtaking Vintage bowls made by the Fulani nomadic people who are pastoralists scattered throughout West Africa - mainly Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Guinea. Engraved with traditional geometric designs with beautiful signs of age and use. Many have beautiful original metal field repairs.

These were originally used for the collection of milk and storage of fresh curdled milk / cattle culture and the bowls are a symbol of cooperation between the men - herders and the women who do the milking.

Please note that many of our handmade items are one of a kind, perfectly imperfect, vintage and have indigenous decorative repair work which we believe adds to the intrinsic value and beauty of the items. No two items are exactly the same.

Medium-Small - 13” x 6.5” x 5”

Turkana are a nomadic people from NW Kenya known for skills in woodcarving and metalwork. Frequently on the move, their household goods must be lightweight and durable. Each of these bowls are carved by hand and used for storage and transportation of food items.

There are several styles of bowl and varying colors of wood. These bowls have become quite valuable, as the wood ages, the color of the bowls take on a beautiful deep hue which adds to the aesthetic quality of the bowl. Functional objects - repair work done by original owner to prolong the life of the piece.

Please note that many of our handmade items are one of a kind, perfectly imperfect, vintage and have indigenous decorative repair work which we believe adds to the intrinsic value and beauty of the items. No two items are exactly the same.

21”-25”

The BaTonga of Zimbabwe and Southern Zambia are famous for their basket weaving skills as well as their geometric designs. The ilala palm is woven into a characteristic square to begin and then radiates outwards to create dramatic patterns that are classic yet modern. The palm fibres are dyed with tree bark, and the baskets are finished with a distinctive herringbone pattern rim.

A basket takes roughly two weeks to complete, and these winnowing baskets are used to separate grain from the chaff, or other debris from the stored grain. In an area prone to drought and poverty, Tonga women are the entrepreneurs of their villages, bringing much-needed additional income to their families.

Please note that many of our handmade items are one of a kind, perfectly imperfect, vintage and have indigenous repair work which we believe adds to the intrinsic value and beauty of the items. No two items are exactly the same. As a result, our website photos are a close representation of the items available, but may not be identical to the ones you receive. If you prefer to select an exact item, please notify us at info@thewanderlane.com and we will send photos of what we have in stock.