Tessa Traeger's photos of hands in the Vivarais region of France
photo: tessa traeger

Some of the most beautiful images of hands we know of are by Tessa Traeger, photographed in the Vivarais region of France. They remind me what just about every good cook I know swears by: hands are the very best kitchen tool.

Tessa Traeger's photos of hands in the Vivarais region of France
photo: tessa traeger

…and always have been, as witnessed by this prehistoric cave painting we found at Historias de Cronopios. In addition to hunting scenes and local flora and fauna, hand imprints are one of the most common themes paleolithic cave paintings left by our prehistoric ancestors. You can read more Read more about it at the Matador Network.

prehistoric cave art from 50,000-20,000 BC

We use ours as spatula, tongs, flattener, tester, feeler, navigator, scraper, sprinkler….

What are your going to dig yours into this weekend?

 

via Design Observer
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hotos courtesy Historias de Cronopios, Tessa Traeger

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3 replies on “essential kitchen tool: your hands

  1. There’s a lot of anthropological/neuroscience work these days showing how our hands and minds evolved together, and how essential to our very beings our hands usually are. (I say “usually” because injury and disease can change or challenge that) One woodworking teacher who’s passionate about this is Doug Stowe, in Arkansas, who writes a blog called “The Wisdom of the Hands.” It’s worth checking out sometime!

  2. Sally–

    This post reminds me of the times I would be visiting with our friend Kathy in the Hutte kitchen as she would be making bread and how effortless she would make the process.

    Donna

  3. Donna, thank you SO much for that memory. Yes, Kathy’s cooking and bread baking was effortless and done with a truly generous touch…She’d knead by hand how many loaves at a time — 6 or 8— always knowing when they were “right”.

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