These slender servers are hand carved from blackwood, or mpingo, by Kenyan artisans. A dyed bone handle adds high contrast to the set.

Origin: Kenya
Size: 14"L x 2"W x 0.75"T
Materials: wood, cow bone

About blackwood...

Blackwood once grew across Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia, and down to South Africa. Since blackwood trees are not truly ready for harvest until they are 70-200 years old, over-harvesting has reduced the range of blackwood trees to the savannahs and coastal lowlands of East Africa. The largest stand of blackwood remains in Mozambique, where a civil war during the latter part of the 20th century impeded harvest.

Today, East African conservationists, wood merchants and carvers are working against time to maintain a proper balance of blackwood harvesting. Their goal is to ensure not only the survival of the species, but the integrity of the best trees, since the harvesting of superior mature trees forces new seedlings to come from inferior trees.

Our blackwood products are crafted by artisans in Kenya and Mozambique who purchase their wood from wood banks and use as much of the wood as possible, often utilizing small scraps to create spoons, spreaders and small sculptures.