Jackwood Art
"Mortars & Pestles". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
To the makers of these items it’s probably just another source of livelihood but to me it’s an art form — wood carving with practical uses. These items are on display at stalls along the highway in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, the Philippines. They were carved from the trunks of jackfruit trees (see my previous post, “Tropical Fruit Facts & Legends: Jackfruit – The World’s Largest Fruit”) and are being sold mainly as wooden kitchenwares and tools.
"Jackwood Stall". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
"Sun-dried". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
Jackfruit lumber or “jackwood” is considered superior to teak when it comes to making furniture and carving items such as those in the photos. It is beautifully textured with colors varying from light yellow to reddish brown when mature. In Cebu City where guitar-making is most popular, jackwood is a preferred material for guitar parts and is often used as an indicator for assessing the quality of the instrument.
"Serving Trays". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
"Jackwood Set". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
The carved items in the shops in Santa Cruz include mortars and pestles, chopping boards, serving trays, sungka (a traditional game), and decorative figures. The shape of serving trays usually indicate the type of food that can be served in it; pig-shaped for lechon (roast pig), fish-shaped for fish dishes, fruit-shaped for fruit deserts, etc. Apparently, they can function as table decor at the same time.
"Fruits". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
"Art Shop". Copyright Jessie T. Ponce 2011
Related articles
- Tropical Fruit Facts & Legends: Jackfruit – The World’s Largest Fruit (travellingartist.wordpress.com)
- Experiments in Texture (travellingartist.wordpress.com)
- Shellfish Gatherers of Santa Cruz (travellingartist.wordpress.com)
- Rainbow Gum in Color (travellingartist.wordpress.com)
- Still Life & Random Objects #5 (travellingartist.wordpress.com)
The drag of endless mental work in a strange land takes its toll. Fatigue can kill so petty escapades provide hopeful deviations from the brewing madness. An aging DSLR keeps good company to a walk around the neighbourhood, a short drive to a scenic place, or a silent recollection in a quiet nook granting that the host community and the elements of nature would allow one a safe passage to solitude and contemplation. Loneliness quickly turns to joy when something exciting gets captured by the cam’s shutter then set free into the laptop’s screen followed by electric words that rush from the fingers to the keyboard in an effort to describe the moment. Alas, the brain is alive once again!
You have produced another fine and interesting post with some wonderful images. Love the colours and shapes.
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Thanks David. 🙂
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Fascinating images and beautifu works of art. Thanks for taking me there.
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Thanks a lot Jim. 🙂
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Nice post on an applied art form that I much love and admire! I have some beautiful wooden items from the Philippines myself, that I cherish and use often – not sure what type of wood was used for them, though…
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Hello, Lisette. Glad to know you appreciate Philippine woodcrafts and thanks for the visit.
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You have a very, very good “eye” and I so appreciate your creativity and validating the photography is so much more than making images. Thank you, from Kodiak Island, Alaska.
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Hello, Marion. This is one thing I really like about blogging, it connects people from all over the world. Really glad to connect with somebody from Alaska — a place I really want to visit some day. I love the photos you share in your blog! Thanks for your kind comments.
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You have gud pictures but we dont have the access where and how to buy the products..
I want to buy smaller lechon trays 8pcs smallest 25inch wide x 16 inch long and 9pcs 25 inch wide x 20 inch long
My.cp no. 09177289990
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Hi. Sorry to disappoint you but I am not the one selling these items myself. I just photographed them as posted them here as this is a photography blog. As I have written in the text: “These items are on display at stalls along the highway in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, the Philippines.” Will be happy to help you if I am in the area but, unfortunately, I am currently on travel in another country. Regards.
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