Wood is Peter’s craft
"My father wanted me to make things myself, he wanted me to be independent, that is why I thought of making spoons with the skills he passed on to me."
POLOKWANE – Wooden spoons are available in shops, and others are hand-made in order to make a living. Peter Perire, a father of one, originally from Zimbabwe, and currently residing in Polokwane, is a spoon maker, taught by his father to craft wood when he was 10. He started making his wooden spoons when he was 18.
“My father wanted me to make things myself, he wanted me to be independent, that is why I thought of making spoons with the skills he passed on to me, hoping I’d pass it on to my son,” Peter said.
He spends most of his days sitting in the comfort of his own home crafting the wood, a time-consuming job because he needs to perfect each and every spoon he crafts. “Splinters are not nice and can be quite painful, so I have to smoothen the wood for better usage and handling,” he said.
Peter told BONUS that to carve a figure in wood may be not only more difficult, but also less satisfactory than sculpting with marble, owing to the tendency of wood to crack, to be damaged by insects, or to suffer from changes in the atmosphere.
He sells wooden spoons to people at home and to anyone in the streets, hopeful to make a sale. He collects the wood in the streets or in wooded areas.
“I hope I inspire many young individuals who also love crafting their own products, the community needs more people like us.” He added we are capable of doing anything we put our minds, time and effort to, in that way anything will be possible.”
