Palestinian Ceramic Watermelon Ice Scream Bowl

Palestinian Ceramic Watermelon Bowl
Hand-painted in the West Bank, Palestine

Cut a watermelon in half and you get this. Deep green rind outside, painted in loose vertical stripes that shift from near-black to bright. Inside, a full field of red with black seeds scattered across it. The glaze catches the light like the real thing does when it's cold.

It's built for ice cream. Three good scoops sit in it comfortably — and the red interior means whatever you serve looks like it belongs there. We had one dessert in mind while making it: Freedom Fruit, the watermelon sorbet from Ben Cohen's Ben's Best. Cohen launched it under his own brand after his call for a watermelon flavour for peace in Palestine, crowd-sourcing the name, ingredients and design from the public. The winning flavour came from Chicago librarian Laura Davis — watermelon, mint and dark chocolate — with pint art by Nadia Al Ali. TRT GlobalBoing Boing

The watermelon isn't decoration. Red, black, green and white are the colours of the Palestinian flag, and the fruit became a stand-in for it when displaying the flag itself was restricted — carried since as a symbol of Palestinian identity and solidarity.

Also good for: labneh, rice pudding, dates, olives, pistachios, or cereal on a morning that needs help.

Shaped and painted by hand by artisans in the West Bank. Every stripe is a brushstroke, so no two bowls are the same.

Details

• Hand-painted ceramic, handmade in the West Bank, Palestine
• 9 cm diameter × 4 cm high
• Green striped exterior, red seeded interior
• Ideal for ice cream, sorbet, desserts, dips, nuts and snacks
• Hand wash recommended to protect the painted finish

Freedom Fruit flavour by Laura Davis (@laurab1226) · Pint design by Nadia Al Ali (@lifewithnadia)

Pairs with the Watermelon Keffiyeh Ceramic Tray, the Watermelon Tatreez Tea Towel and the matching mug.