Processing Calabashes

The procedure of processing the calabash takes several days. When the berry is ripe, I take it from the tree. Because calabashes that have already fallen down usually have cracks in the shell or have even broken open.

First, I very carefully cut the berry into the desired parts with a saw. There is a pull, a pressure on the shell of the calabash. Therefore, I have to make the cut evenly in its depth to avoid unwanted breaks when breaking open. Now the opened berry presents itself to me with its pulp. I scrape out the inside of the calabash very carefully with a certain amount of pressure and a sharp spoon, until the fibers at the joints and the stem base inside have been removed. 

Then I wash and carefully scrape out the inside of the berry once more. The split calabashes dry out carefully in the sun for a few days until the inside and outside also changes color. In the meantime, the wood-like properties of the bowl also intensify. Now I can process and flatten the edges and inner stem bases with a file and then sand both sides of the bowl in several steps.

Now the calabashes are ready and I apply the design of the two tableware series. Each color is applied in two layers and then coated with a boat varnish to protect the design and the shell itself for use.