Bowl (vessel)

: For other meanings of the word bowl, see Bowl.

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The bowl, a common open-top vessel in many cultures, is used to serve food, and is sometimes also used for drinking and storing other items. They are generally small and shallow, although some, such as punch bowls and salad bowls, are larger and are sometimes intended to serve many people at once. Bowls have existed for thousands of years. Modern bowls can be made of ceramic, metal, wood, plastic, and other materials. Their appearance can range from very simple designs of a single color to sophisticated artwork.

Related Topics:
Vessel - Food - Drinking - Punch - Salad - Ceramic - Metal - Wood - Plastic - Art

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Bowls are ubiquitous. Some bowls can be safe to use in a microwave oven, depending on the material that the bowl is made out of. In the U.S. some microwave meals are sold in plastic bowls, such as those marketed under the Healthy Choice and Uncle Ben's brand names. Movie theaters often serve popcorn in large cardboard bowls or boxes. Soup is usually served in a bowl, although cups of soup are also common. Very old bowls can be collectible antiques or even artifacts. In examining bowls found during an archaeological dig in North America, the anthropologist Vincas Steponaitis defines a bowl by its dimensions, writing that a bowl's diameter rarely falls under half its height and that historic bowls can be classified by their edge, or lip, and shape.

Related Topics:
Microwave oven - Microwave meal - Healthy Choice - Uncle Ben's - Movie theaters - Popcorn - Soup - Cup - Antique - Artifacts - Anthropologist

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In classical Greece, small bowls, including phiales and pateras, and bowl-shaped cups called kylixes were used. History of Ancient Pottery describes how phiales were used for libations and included a small dent in the center for the bowl to be held with a finger, although one source indicates that these were used to hold perfume rather than wine.

Related Topics:
Classical - Phiale - Patera - Kylix - Libation - Perfume - Wine

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