Coolamon

A coolamon is a shallow canoe shaped bowl made out of bark or wood with curves on both sides. Their size can vary from between fifteen centimetres to eighty centimetres in length and from eighty to twenty-six milometers wide. Coolamons are most commonly made out of the bark of the stinking waddle. Although there are also examples of coolamons made out of a piece of tree trunk. Coolamons have several uses like carrying food, water, or children, dig through the ground, or provide improvised protection against the elements.
A coolamon can be used to carry objects in a myriad of ways. For short distances, like getting water from the local well, the coolamon will be carried by placing it under ones arm or will be carried over ones shoulder with two double strips of string. For journeys to further away locations the coolamon will be carried on a persons head with the aid of a circular pad for comfort. These pads are often made out of a piece of fur which is filled with grass or feathers for comfort. Then there are some people who like to attach some string to a small coolamon and wear it as a hat against the burning sun and pouring rain, and some people just hold the one they have on hand over their head as an improvised umbrella.

Manufacturing process

After the wood has been cut the woodworker will insert a series of deep ridges into the wood with his knife. Then he will hold the wood over an open fire to give it its distinctive curved sides and harden the wood. After the wood has gained its form the coolamon's exterior gets decorated with a traditional painted pattern, after which it is waxed in Emu fat to waterproof the wood and prevent the decorations from being damaged.

Item type

Storage

Rarity

Common

Dimensions

10x50cm

Base Price

2sp

Raw materials & Components

Stinking waddle bark

Tools

Woodworking knife