Handcrafted gourd objects rooted in global tradition, thoughtful design, and everyday ritual.
G HOME transforms gourds into sculptural objects meant to be held, used, passed around, and lived with. Drawing from centuries of cultural history across continents, each piece balances utility and storytelling, preserving the natural character of the material while reimagining it for contemporary homes and rituals.
Founder Haoying Zhang grew up in China surrounded by gourd objects long before realizing how universal they truly were. After studying design at the Rhode Island School of Design, a trip to Mexico revealed familiar forms appearing in entirely different cultural contexts: bules, jícaras, mate cups, water carriers, and drinking vessels that echoed the objects from her childhood. That realization became the foundation for G HOME, a practice rooted in research, history, and the shared human relationship to natural materials across cultures.
Every object begins with the gourd itself. Rather than forcing the material into predetermined forms, G HOME follows the natural geometry, structure, and shape of each individual piece, allowing the gourds to guide what they eventually become. The result is work that feels organic and grounded, preserving the imperfections, curves, and textures that make each object unique.
Research plays a central role in the process. Archaeological studies, mythology, folk traditions, and global craft histories all inform the work before production even begins. Most of the gourds are sourced from trusted farms in Maryland and Pennsylvania, though certain projects call for varieties gathered from farther away when a particular shape, density, or cultural connection is needed. Once in the Rhode Island studio, each gourd is carved, cleaned, and finished by hand with great care taken not to erase the character the material already holds.
The pieces themselves are designed for use rather than display alone. Oil vessels, cups, containers, and sculptural forms are made to sit on kitchen counters, dining tables, and shelves where they naturally become part of daily life. There’s an intimacy to the work that encourages touch, conversation, and ritual rather than distance.
G HOME’s identity is deeply tied to its ongoing exploration of gourd culture beyond the objects themselves. Workshops, collaborative events, historical research, and conversations with growers and makers all continue shaping the practice into something larger than a product line, an evolving network of shared knowledge and craft traditions.
Creation happens wherever the gourds happen to be. Sometimes that means a dusty workshop, other times a collaborator’s farm or a friend’s kitchen table. The work moves fluidly between spaces, following the material and the people connected to it.
What You'll Find at Bloom
Hand carved gourd vessels, cups, and sculptural home objects, pieces inspired by global craft traditions and natural forms, and functional design rooted in history, ritual, and everyday use
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With G HOME
Why Bloom?
“Shop Bloom PVD is suggested to me by my mentor at DesignxRI! It's absolutely lovely to enter the beautiful creative network in Rhode Island.” - Haoying Zhang
Fun Fact
Wherever gourds exist, G HOME is there.