Description
This hand-carved mahogany mortar and pestle by Belizean artist Carl Gordon is a heartfelt tribute to the Indigenous peoples of the region, particularly the Garifuna and their ancestors. Wrapped around the mortar are detailed faces and other imagery representing the generations who have used tools like this to prepare traditional foods. One of the figures carries a bowl of ground provisions, balanced on her head, a familiar and meaningful image in many Belizean communities, while in another area, a man plays the drums, capturing the rhythm and vitality of Garifuna life.
At the base, a carved double helix design, inspired by the shape of DNA, represents how food, culture, and knowledge are passed down through generations. The matching pestle features simple carvings that tie it together with the mortar.
In Garifuna cooking, this kind of large wooden mortar, often with a tall pestle, is used to mash boiled plantains into a fufu‑like paste called hudutu, served with coconut-fish stew, in a labor-intensive process that echoes West African traditions. It’s also used to grate and crush staple ingredients (cassava, coconut) to prepare bread, coconut milk, and stews. These tools are often passed down through generations and remain central to traditional Garifuna and broader Belizean culinary practice .
More than a kitchen tool, this mortar and pestle is a vessel for tradition, honoring food, community, and memory. Perfect for collectors, cultural institutions, or culinary historians, it fuses artistry with living practice and Belizean heritage.
