Terracotta Bread Warmer & Seagrass Basket — Tree of Life | KORISSA

A terracotta bread warmer stone engraved with a hand-carved Tree of Life — deep, spreading roots anchoring a strong trunk, branches reaching outward into a full crown of individual leaves, all contained within a rope-bordered circle. Set into a handwoven round seagrass and jute basket with braided rope handles. Bread Warmer: 0.5” tall × 9” round (1.3 × 22.9cm). Basket: 3.25” tall × 11” round (8.3 × 27.9cm). Keeps bread warm for up to 40 minutes. Designed and curated by KORISSA, handmade by Fair Trade artisans in Bangladesh.

The Tree of Life — Symbol of Rootedness, Growth & the Continuity of All Living Things

The Tree of Life is one of the oldest and most universal symbols in human history — present in the mythologies, sacred art, and decorative traditions of virtually every culture on earth. In ancient Mesopotamia, it was the axis of the world: the tree whose roots reached into the underworld and whose branches touched the heavens, connecting all realms of existence. In Celtic tradition, it was the sacred oak at the center of the grove — a symbol of strength, longevity, and the wisdom that comes only with deep roots. In Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, it is the Bodhi tree — the tree of awakening, of clarity, of the moment when understanding becomes complete. In Bengali and South Asian folk art, the tree appears as a symbol of the family itself: roots as ancestors, trunk as the present generation, branches as children and grandchildren reaching toward the light.

What makes this motif so enduring is its completeness. The tree shown here has everything: roots that grip the earth — deep, spreading, visible, unashamed of where they come from. A trunk that holds — strong enough to bear the weight of everything above. And a crown that opens — individual leaves, each distinct, reaching in every direction. It is a portrait of a life well-lived: grounded, resilient, generous. At the table, this bread warmer places that portrait at the center of every shared meal — a quiet reminder of what the table is for.

How It Improves Your Daily Life

Bread goes cold quickly at the table. The terracotta stone solves this without electricity or batteries: heat it in the oven at 350°F for 5–10 minutes (or microwave on high for 2–4 minutes), place it in the basket, lay a cloth napkin over it, and set the bread on top. The stone retains heat for up to 40 minutes — long enough for any meal. The round basket sits naturally at the center of the table, and the Tree of Life engraving makes it an object worth noticing, worth keeping, worth passing on.

Why Terracotta & Seagrass?

Terracotta is one of the oldest heat-retention materials in the world — dense, porous, and naturally insulating. It heats evenly, holds temperature without hot spots, and releases heat gradually. No synthetic coatings, no chemical treatments — just fired clay. The seagrass and jute basket is harvested from sustainably grown coastal plants, handwoven without synthetic reinforcement, and fully biodegradable at end of life. A tree carved in clay, held in a basket woven from the earth — the materials are as grounded as the symbol.

Fair Trade Artisan-Made

Designed and curated by KORISSA, handwoven and hand-engraved by Fair Trade artisans in Bangladesh. Fair wages, safe working conditions, community investment. The Tree of Life is hand-carved into each terracotta stone — slight variations in the depth of the roots, the spread of the branches, and the shape of individual leaves are inherent to the process. No two pieces are identical. Each one is its own tree.

How to Use It

1. Preparation — before first use, rinse the terracotta stone with water and dry thoroughly
2. Heat the stone — oven: 350°F for 5–10 minutes | microwave: high for 2–4 minutes
3. Place in basket — use oven mitts or tongs; place stone in the round seagrass basket
4. Set up bread — lay a cloth napkin or tea towel over the stone; place bread on top
5. Keep warm — cover bread with another cloth napkin; retains heat for up to 40 minutes
6. Clean — stone: wipe with damp cloth, dry well, hand wash only — not dishwasher safe. Basket: dust or vacuum regularly, wipe with damp cloth, dry thoroughly, keep out of direct sunlight. Never put basket in oven.

Details & Care

• Bread Warmer: 0.5” tall × 9” round (1.3 × 22.9cm) | 100% Terracotta | Hand-engraved Tree of Life — roots, trunk, and full leaf crown
• Basket: 3.25” tall × 11” round (8.3 × 27.9cm) | 100% Seagrass + Jute | Braided rope handles
• Color: Natural terracotta with whitewash finish | Fair Trade | Zero Waste | Handmade in Bangladesh by KORISSA
• Bread Warmer Care: Wipe with damp cloth. Dry well. Hand wash only — not dishwasher safe.
• Basket Care: Dust or vacuum regularly. Wipe with damp cloth if needed. Dry thoroughly. Keep out of direct sunlight. Never put basket in oven.