Bowls

On Tami Island in the Huon Gulf, a long oval bowl is carved for a feast and for the exchange that follows. Antique bowls in wood, bronze, brass and glazed ceramic come from Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. The Tami Island ceremonial bowls of Papua New Guinea have long oval forms finished with stylized carved figures; Indian brass and bell-metal bowls served temple and kitchen alike; Chinese monochrome glazes pool darker where the walls curve. Hand-adzed interiors, worn rims and the slight lean of a hand-turned form give these pieces their weight. A broad carved bowl reads as sculpture on a long dining table, empty or holding a few river stones. Nothing needs to be served.