Coconut is one of the diversified fruits every bit of which is utilised in various ways. However, the shell and inner core of the Coconut in most cases is thrown away or used as firewood for cooking. The coconut shell which enclosed the renel and a very beautiful and hardy object seems to have simply offered itself to man to make what he could of it. You can create different items by using a little creativity and ingenuity. The process involves sketching, cutting, sanding, and buffing to create the finished product.

A variety of items like bowls, vases, roses, rose-water sprinklers, teapots etc. are made from coconuts. Now-a-days, coconut shells are carved into useful and decorative articles such as fruit-dishes, wine cups, finger bowls, ice-cream cusps, lamp stands, vases pen and pencil stands, cups and saucers. Articles like hukkas, larger vases and lampshades are also made of coconut shells with brass bindings.The items also include table lamps, jewellery, finger bowls and other objects have become quite popular.

Procedure of making Coconut Craft
The shell of required size is selected, its outer surface rubbed by a steel tool while the inner part is smoothened with a chisel. A circular base and a handle separately made with shell are attached to the cup by fixing screws. First boot polish is applied and then a final coating of French polish is given for high class finishing. It also involves the casting of whole bell-metal article. Bees wase and charcoal are mixed and melted, filtered through a piece of cloth and deposited in cold water, heated again and pressed on a small square piece of lead with a variety of designs. This is then pressed against wooden model of article under preparation. When this model has been completely covered by wax, it is removed and the wax mould given three coatings of a mixture of clay and chalk powder. Some times paddy tusk is also added and it is then dried in the sun. After it gets heated the wax comes out through the opening provided for the purpose. The mould is then placed over a crucible in which copper and zinc are melted, and the positions of the two are interchanged so that the liquid fills the cavity left by the melting of the wax. When the metal cools, the mould is removed and the surface smoothened. Then the coconut shell is fixed inside the frame with gum and a paste prepared by boiling sealing wax in water.

Lamp stands encased in brass and smaller coconut shell articles are made in Trivandrum, Attingal and Neyyatinkara, while larger items are made in Quilandy in Kozhikode district in north Kerala. Often hookas and large vases are also made by combining coconut shells with brass bindings. Coconut fibre is cleaned, smoothened and made into various dolls and toys with beads and coloured threads to it go give it a decorative appearance.

Coconut Artifacts
Bowls, vases, roses, teapots , wine cups, finger bowls, ice-cream cups, saucers, pen and pencil stands, hukkas, lampshades, fruit dishes, table lamps, finger bowls, roses, jewellery, vases, teapots.