Dinner Plate "Zulu"

This is an extraordinary old Zulu wood carving or platter from South Africa. This platter was carved from a single piece of hardwood and was once used for the ceremonial presentation of various dishes.

This beautifully handcrafted wooden Zulu tray is called "ugqoko" by the local Zulu people. The wood used varies, but in most cases the Zulu use kiaat wood, which is native to South Africa. The Zulu serving plate is an important utensil that is still used on a daily basis and has handles on the sides of the plate for easy handling. The plate is often placed on top of another plate and turned over to serve as a cover.