This bowl is inspired by the shape of the abalone shell, which is often used for smudging. Smudging happens by burning different elements such as sage sticks, sweet grass braids or palo santo sticks. The smoke that comes from the medicine can cleanse, support, and protect, depending on which intention you set or traditional teachings given to you.
The Urku (meaning mountain in Kichwa) Bowl was made to find a sustainable alternative to abalone shell, as there is a great amount of overharvesting now hurting abalone shells and their ecosystem. It is made using local materials and traditional clay making techniques from the Quechua community of Pisac, Cuszo, Peru. It is a collaboration between clay master Don Vicente Quispe (who keeps this clay making ancestral tradition alive) and Marcos Arcentales, creator behind jewellery line Bone & Quill.
The symmetrical designs represent the mountains of the Andes, in honour and respect to the origin of the clay and how it was made. The natural colour of the red clay is also kept to highlight the earth’s beauty.
Materials: Made in Pisac, Peru using local clay and pigments
Dimensions:
5 x 3.5 inches, 1.5 inches to 2 inches in height
*There is some variation between each bowl as they are all handmade