Here's how to grow gourds in a mold to create any shape you want.
Even portrait sculptures. It's an ancient technique from China.
This method also works for other vegetables. Portrait pickles anyone?
Jim Widess, proprietor of "The Caning Shop" in Berkeley CA and author of many books on gourd craft walks me through the steps.
These molds and gourds were made by the Chinese master Zhang Cairi.
Even portrait sculptures. It's an ancient technique from China.
This method also works for other vegetables. Portrait pickles anyone?
Jim Widess, proprietor of "The Caning Shop" in Berkeley CA and author of many books on gourd craft walks me through the steps.
These molds and gourds were made by the Chinese master Zhang Cairi.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Get or Carve the Original Pattern
Here's Jim Widess holding mold-grown portrait gourd sculptures of himself.
The light-colored one is the gourd's natural color. The darker one was stained with dark tea.
Almost any object can be used as a pattern for gourd mold.
Most likely you'll want to cast your head full-sized and make a mold from that.
Watch this space for an instructable detailing that process.
The mold must be slightly smaller than the gourd's natural size.
Match the gourd to the rough size and shape of the object you're molding.
There are gourds that grow very large and in a variety of shapes.
The light-colored one is the gourd's natural color. The darker one was stained with dark tea.
Almost any object can be used as a pattern for gourd mold.
Most likely you'll want to cast your head full-sized and make a mold from that.
Watch this space for an instructable detailing that process.
The mold must be slightly smaller than the gourd's natural size.
Match the gourd to the rough size and shape of the object you're molding.
There are gourds that grow very large and in a variety of shapes.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
I had heard of the molded square melons before and always assumed that the mold needed to be transparent to allow light to fall on the surface of the fruit. I guess gourds don't need sunlight on their skin to grow. Great project really has me inspired for spring.
Anyone care to speculate on the process for this? Gentle abrasion, chemical process, very tricksy work with a peeler...?
Put you in my gift guide for guys! Just thought I'd let you know :)
Wouldn't water get into the mould and rot the gourd in the process of the casting?
How about making a portrait mold in which the gourd stem comes out of the top of the head? Gourd bottom = face, gourd top = hat, remove hat to fill head.
This is similar to an idea a friend once had to mold eggplants or other vegies to make Jesus faces and then to reverse shoplift them -- sneaking them into supermarket bins for people to find. A miracle!
I think the Japanese used to mold square bamboo for furniture making. Also, someone was molding cubical watermellons for more compact shipping and storage in refrigerators.