African Vintage Gourd-Monkey Balls Decorative Art Balls - Large
These gourds are the fruit of the Strychnos Spinosa Tree also referred to as Spiny-Monkey Orange or Green Monkey Orange and it’s a favored meal among monkeys and other animals. Harvesting the trees provides employment for the villagers and prevents the trees from being cut for firewood.
The fruit is dried and decorated in many ways including hand-carving, hand-painted or both.
These decorative gourd art ball accessories will add an interesting touch to your decor in quantity or with only a few in a bowl or basket.
I have only heard these balls referred to as as Monkey Balls while in Africa, but there are some, who call them Monkey Apples or Monkey Oranges.
As the seeds are still inside, many of the Monkey Balls make a musical sound when shaken; sometimes the seeds are lodged together into one large seed and the sound is softer or there’s no sound at all.
As each ball is uniquely hand-carved the design varies and you will receive balls within the design category shown in the photos if not the actual ones shown.
Sizes vary, small, medium and large as the fruit comes in various sizes.
The last photo is of a Monkey Ball sitting on a Banana Leaf Ring.
This item is fragile for shipping and a lot of packing has to be used which makes the packaging a little larger and the price of shipping a little more. It's more than worth it when you receive the item.
Approximate Dimensions: 4"H X 10.5"-12" Circumference
Price is for 1 Monkey Ball
Bowl Not Included
Shipping Discounts Available for Multiple Balls