Discovering the Ancient Art of Bamboo Bowl Making
As we returned from our most recent buying trip for Coco Blanca in search of fabulous products for the home, I came upon one favorite new vendor in a section of the market called, “Handmade Global Design,” where a select group of 150 resources met the criteria to sell their products. The core criteria for acceptance: a developed line of unique and original work, authentic designs, traditional handmade craftsmanship, and a focus on community building through global artisan workshops.
My new global crush was a French company producing elegant, food-safe bamboo tableware entirely handmade by Vietnamese craftsmen. A young Vietnamese woman greeted me at her booth and explained that her bamboo bowls could be used to serve both hot food (even soup—up to 158°F) and cold food, and were available in a beautiful natural finish or in several gorgeous lacquer and matte finishes. As she showed us her products and explained a little bit about the history of her company, Coco fell in love and a new vendor partnership was born!
As I discovered more about the culture of Vietnam from this company, I learned that the craftsmen work together as a family, and, in the working area, women and men hold equal positions. Because begging is prohibited in Vietnam, sometimes everybody has to work in craftsmen families, including the very young. Little Moon, the creator behind this company, began working in the fields at age 8, and then at the end of the 70’s she left Vietnam alone at age 13 to study in France. After 20 years, she (and her husband) returned to Vietnam with a desire to establish a fair trade system in which they could introduce France to Vietnamese craftsmen. In exchange, the French promised to provide decent wages and working standards in order to prevent young children from working and to register them in school, replant the natural resources they used, and limit their CO2 emissions so they were no longer breathing solvents all day.
I gained a greater appreciation of the ancient crafts involved in making these bamboo products. After harvest, the bamboo is soaked in water for a few weeks to clear up its cellulose and become rot-proof. Then it is dried, cracked into strips, and wound around a ring, creating a reel of bamboo the same diameter as the finished product for which it will be crafted.
Once the reel is formed, it is put on a mold and then shaped with a hammer.
The bottom of the bowl naturally hollows out as the shape draws apart the strips of bamboo. A keystone is used to create a solid bamboo plug-like center. Before being planed, the bamboo bowl is soaked in natural resin from a cashew tree.
In total, there are 12 layers of finish applied to each bamboo product, with a very long drying time to get such brilliance. Between every layer, the bamboo is sanded by hand, underwater, to become ultra-smooth. Then solvent-free, environmentally friendly paints and varnishes are applied for a food-safe finish. This makes it not only safer for the consumer, but also for the craftsmen who make them!
I can’t wait for our order to arrive at Coco Blanca! However, because each piece is hand-made, these bamboo beauties won’t be arriving until October—the perfect time for the holidays! We will be sending an email to our patrons as soon as they arrive, so be sure you’re in the loop and signed up on our email list. Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming …
- About the boutique
Using the soothing color palette of a coconut by the sea—whites, neutrals and splashes of turquoise—Coco Blanca has created a trademark look. Her lifestyle boutique offers expert solutions for home design and women’s fashion—blending a clean, fresh, sophisticated, feel-good style.
210 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8002
2 Comments
I’m interested in the rice bowls. Where can I find them? Where is your store?
Hi Betsy. I’m thrilled you read my old post but, unfortunately, Coco Blanca closed its business the end of 2018. I miss it very much and hope to relaunch something similar. Perhaps 2020 is the magical year. Sorry this does not help you with these beautiful wooden bowls made in Vietnam. Good luck with your search for something comparable.