The humble kitchen bowl

It’s a simple object we all take for granted, but it plays an essential role in our daily lives. From holding your children’s cereal in the morning to serving up a hearty soup for dinner, the kitchen bowl is a versatile tool we rely on daily.

But have you ever stopped to think about the history of the kitchen bowl? Where did it come from, and how has it evolved over time? Well, my dear Moksi reader, sit back and enjoy as we delve into the fascinating world of the humble kitchen bowl.

The first bowls were made by ancient civilisations thousands of years ago. In fact, pottery fragments found in a south China cave have been confirmed to be about 20,000 years old, making them the oldest known pottery in the world.

These early bowls were made from clay, stone, and animal horns. They were used for various purposes, from holding food to serving as offerings to the gods.

As time passed, the design of the kitchen bowl evolved. In ancient Greece, bowls were made from ceramic and were often decorated with intricate patterns and designs. They were used for eating, drinking, and even religious ceremonies.

During the Middle Ages, bowls became more ornate, often made from precious materials such as gold and silver. The wealthy used them as a status symbol, and many were adorned with jewels and intricate carvings. On an excavation site at Oegstgeest Leiden University, archaeologists discovered a scarce silver bowl from the first half of the seventh century. The bowl is decorated with gold-plated representations of animals and plants and inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Even more interesting bevelled rim bowls were thought to be the first mass-produced bowls during the mid-fourth millennium B.C. which originated in the city-state of Uruk.

Cool hey!

But it wasn’t until the 19th century that the kitchen bowl as we know it today began to take shape. With the rise of industrialisation, bowls could be mass-produced and made from various materials such as glass, metal and plastic. This made them more affordable and accessible to the average person, and they quickly became a staple in households worldwide.

So, what makes the kitchen bowl so unique? For starters, it’s incredibly versatile. You can use it to hold anything from soup to nuts, your favourite chips or biltong or the crowd-pleasing dessert, and it comes in various sizes to suit your needs. Whether you’re feeding a family of four or just yourself, a bowl out there is perfect for your home. 

But the kitchen bowl is more than just a functional object. It’s also a vessel for memories and traditions. 

Think about it…

How many of us have fond memories of eating a favourite meal out of a beloved bowl? Maybe it’s the bowl your mom used to serve up her famous malva pudding or the one you bought on a trip to our stunning South Africa. Whatever the case, the kitchen bowl has a way of becoming intertwined with our lives and memories.

And let’s not forget about the aesthetics of the kitchen bowl. With so many different colours, patterns, and designs to choose from, you can find a bowl that’s both practical and lovely. You may prefer a classic porcelain bowl, or you would like something more funky and colourful. 

Our decor team at Moksi have selected this gorgeous Stoneware Frida & Autumn Colours Dessert Bowl created By Rabbit Ceramic Studio.

Stoneware Frida & Autumn Colours Dessert Bowl

As well as,

This Ceramic Hand Thrown Bowl created by DIJA SHOP in a gorgeous pink!

Ceramic Hand-Thrown Bowl – Pink

Imagine serving your mom’s delicious Malva Pudding in these fabulous handmade bowls.

Whichever one you choose, the humble kitchen bowl may seem like a simple object, but it has a rich history and plays an essential role in our daily lives. So next time you sit down to enjoy a meal from your favourite bowl, take a moment to appreciate all it represents.

Sources: 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/jun/28/ancient-chinese-pottery-oldest-yet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beveled_rim_bowl

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/archive-divers/2014/07/discovery-of-a-unique-silver-bowl-from-the-early-middle-ages