Find a bowl or tray that fits your needs
Each River Bottom Bowl or Tray is proudly handmade from a single stump of Water Tupelo, grown for up to 100 years and native to our South Carolina river bottoms, creeks, and swamps. These stumps, weighing as much as 1000 pounds, are milled locally, and then transported to our workshop. From the selection of each individual stump to the application of the final food safe finish, these bowls are a true labor of love for us.
We work very hard to showcase the character of the grain in each one of our pieces. No two River Bottom Bowls are exactly alike. We strive to be as consistent as possible with the size and shape of our products. However, the natural color, character and grain of each stump are created and designed by God, giving each bowl the unique aesthetic that make them so special.
Our bowls and trays come in 2 traditional shapes:
Oval Our oval pieces are symmetrical and can be displayed either vertically or horizontally. |
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Oblong Our oblong or egg shaped pieces are rounded on both ends but wider at the bottom, narrower at the top. They are best displayed vertically. |
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We pride ourselves at the River Bottom Bowl Company on offering a wide variety of sizes to suit our customers’ needs ranging from small family gatherings to large wedding receptions and catered events. Whether you are serving 2, 20, or 200, we can create a bowl or tray for you. Below are our standard and most popular sizes. Please bear in mind that our serving estimates can vary depending on what you are serving and the appetites of your company.
- XS - 14” L x 10” W. This is our smallest and most economical size. It can be used for as few as 2-4 people, and as many as 8.
- S - 19” L x 12” W. Our small trays are ideal for serving 6-12 people. This is a good size for most dinner parties.
- M - 23” L x 14.5” W. This is our most versatile and popular size. It can be used for as few as 8-10 and can accommodate up to 25. This is a great size for families who love to entertain. It is also big enough to be an eye catching centerpiece or decorative item.
- L - 28” L x 18” W. Our large size can serve no less than 25 and up to as many as 75, depending on what you are serving. This is for the family who really likes to entertain or for professional caterers.
- XL - 38” L x 19” W. Our XL size serves no fewer than 50 or 60 and as many as 125+. Our XL trays are frequently used by caterers and barbecue enthusiasts to serve whole hogs at pig pickins and large frogmore stews.
All of our bowls and trays are meant to not only look great but be functional as well. All of our bowls and trays come standard with a traditional mineral oil finish. Mineral oil is completely food safe and easy to apply. It not only protects and preserves the wood but also brings out the natural beauty and depth of each bowl or tray.
If you want to personalize your bowl or tray, we offer monogramming and initialing in 3 basic fonts. Each monogram is hand burned into the face of each piece using a wood burning tool. Contact us or your local retailer for pricing, and see below for monogram options:
| Vine | Circle | Roman |
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CUSTOM BOWLS
We recognize that while our standard sizes and shapes are ideal for most applications, occasionally our customers need something special. Maybe you need a specific size for your dining room table or perhaps you want something unique for your mountain house. Maybe you are trying to replicate your grandmother’s dough bowl that you remember from childhood. At the River Bottom Bowl Company, we are happy to work with you to create a custom bowl or tray to meet your needs. Contact us for pricing and design on custom pieces.
CARE AND CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
River Bottom Bowls are meant to be used and are easy to clean. Use a cloth with warm soapy water to wipe down the bowl or tray until clean. Next, use a clean wet cloth to remove any soap residue. Wipe dry with a fresh towel. If the bowl is still slightly damp, allow to air dry. NEVER SOAK BOWLS AND TRAYS OR PUT THEM IN A DISHWASHER AS IT WILL DAMAGE THE FINISH AND/OR WOOD.
From time to time, you may notice that your River Bottom bowl or tray is looking a little dry. This can occur as a result of frequent usage as well as other factors such as time and humidity. To maintain the beauty and extend the life of your bowl or tray, you will need to do a little easy maintenance.
Purchase a bottle of mineral oil from your local drugstore. (Be careful not to confuse mineral oil, which is food safe, with mineral spirits, which are not food safe.) Using your hands, liberally rub both the inside and outside of your bowl with mineral oil. Allow the piece to sit out overnight to absorb the oil into the wood. In the morning, wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel and your bowl or tray should look as good as new.
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