Our hand-carved wooden spoons, serving pieces, and keepsakes are carved one at a time from sustainable jacaranda or musave wood by the Inganzo woodcarvers in Rwanda. Because these trees regrow after cutting, each piece is a low-waste, renewable choice, and no two are exactly alike. Here is how a carved piece takes shape.
This is the beginning of many hand-carved wood crafts, from measuring spoons to a hand carved nativity set. It is a sustainable choice because the jacaranda wood, or musave, used to make these items grows back once the trees have been cut.
The wood is then traced and prepared to be carved into a one-of-a-kind piece. The shape, shade, and measurement of each piece may vary slightly, as they are all carved by hand from different cuts of wood. This is also why our hand carved wooden bowls and spoons each have their own character.
The final, and most important, step to creating a hand-carved piece is the carving and shaping. A variety of hand tools are used to achieve the desired look.
Meet the Makers: The Inganzo Woodcarvers
In 2003, a community of Catholic nuns in Cyeza Parish provided training in woodcarving to two disabled members of the community. Those two men went on to train three others, and the Inganzo woodcarvers’ association was born. Rural life can be very tough, particularly for those who are physically challenged, and the income and dignity from Inganzo’s work has proved to be very significant for all seven of the group’s current members.
When you choose our hand-carved wooden spoons and keepsakes, you support these skilled artisans directly. Explore the full hand-carved collection to find your own one-of-a-kind piece.
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