Gamal Root Vases: Facts & Style - Rare Earth Gallery

These unique glass vases and bowls are sourced from natural Gamal wood, which is used as a base and inspiration for the molten glass placed on top! Hand-crafted using the salvaged raw materials of the gamal tree, these pieces are eco-friendly and repurposed. This is one of the most fascinating, eco-preservation practices of Indonesia’s forests by only using the roots for products, making each one a striking contrast from the next.

⚡ Quick Answer

Gamal root vases and bowls are handcrafted decorative pieces that pair a salvaged root base from the gamal tree (Gliricidia sepium) with a hand-blown glass vessel shaped to fit it. Made in Indonesia from repurposed, eco-friendly materials, each piece is one of a kind because no two roots are alike. They work beautifully as home decor, holding fresh flowers or succulents or simply standing as organic sculpture. Scroll down for how they are made, the gamal tree, and how to style them.

How Gamal Root Vases Are Made

Each root base is cut, cleaned and kiln dried, then an Indonesian artisan hand blows a glass vessel to perfectly fit each unique root base. The glass is then dipped and cooled into water to solidify its organic shape. Every culture has its own unique style, but the quality and creative expression of Indonesia’s woodcraft is incredible. These hand-cut pieces hold the cultural aesthetic of Indonesia. Woodworking is known to be one the most commonly practiced art forms of Indonesia.

What Is the Gamal Tree?

The name “gamal” is a term that the locals use for the Gliricidia Sepium tree. The G. sepium’s most common use is as shade trees for plantations crops such as coffee beans. Their dense foliage make for great coverage and when they flower, the vivid lilac flowers are beautiful to look at! The G. sepium usually grows around 10-12 feet tall and has smooth, reddish-brown bark.

How to Use Gamal Root Vases as Decor

These vases make great home decor pieces. Each one is unique and adds a sophisticated and organic detail to any space. You can use them in many different ways, the wider bowls can be used as a small succulent garden, the taller vases can be used to put fresh cut flowers in and more! Check out our inspiration page to get some great ideas on how to use these pieces.

If you enjoy decorating with organic, one-of-a-kind pieces, you may also enjoy our guides to Natural Stone Candle Holders, Gemstone Trees, and Hand-Carved Gemstone Birds.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gamal Root Vases

What is a gamal root vase? ▼

A gamal root vase is a decorative piece that combines a natural, salvaged root base from the gamal tree with a hand-blown glass vessel shaped to fit it. The wood forms the organic base and the glass holds water or arrangements, making each piece both functional and sculptural.

What is the gamal tree? ▼

Gamal is the local name for Gliricidia sepium, a tree commonly grown in Indonesia as a shade tree for plantation crops such as coffee. It has dense foliage, vivid lilac flowers, and smooth reddish-brown bark, and typically grows around 10 to 12 feet tall.

How are gamal root vases made? ▼

Each root base is cut, cleaned, and kiln dried. An Indonesian artisan then hand-blows a glass vessel to fit that specific root, and the glass is dipped and cooled in water so it solidifies into its organic shape. Because the process starts with a natural root, every piece comes out slightly different.

Are gamal root vases eco-friendly? ▼

Yes. Gamal root vases are made from salvaged, repurposed material. Rather than harvesting whole trees, the craft uses the roots to create finished products, which makes it one of the more eco-conscious woodcraft traditions and gives each piece a sustainable story.

Is each gamal root vase unique? ▼

Every gamal root vase is one of a kind. Because no two roots share the same shape, size, or grain, each finished piece has its own distinct form, and the hand-blown glass is shaped individually to match that particular root.

How do you use and style gamal root vases? ▼

Gamal root vases make striking home decor. The wider bowls work well as a small succulent garden, while the taller vessels are ideal for fresh-cut flowers, and any of them can simply stand on their own as organic sculpture that adds a sophisticated, natural detail to a space.