Serving bowls

Serving bowls

Serving bowls are what makes a table feel inviting, whether you're putting out crisps, olives or fresh fruit. At Dims Studio you'll find a wide range of serving bowls in ceramic and stoneware, where many of the bowls are shaped like what they're meant to hold, for example lemons, oysters or strawberries, while others are simple, colourful stoneware bowls with no figurative details. Here's a guide to motifs, materials, sizes and uses, so you can put together the table setting that suits your occasion.

Motifs and types of serving bowls

Many of our serving bowls share one thing: the shape hints at the contents. A lemon-shaped bowl signals that it's meant for lemons or citrus fruit, while a bowl with vine leaves along the rim suits olives or nuts. Below you'll find the motif groups that recur across the range.

Shellfish and fish: oysters, mussels and crabs

Shellfish motifs form one of the largest groups in the range. The ceramic Oyster bowl from Caja Company comes in four sizes, from Ø8 cm to Ø25 cm, while the Oyster bowl from &Klevering and the Mussel bowl from &Klevering offer a more graphic take on the same theme. There's also the Small crab bowl and the Deep crab bowl, second selection, both from Caja Company, along with a series of canapé bowls shaped like fish in several colours: the Lime fish canapé bowl, the Blue fish canapé bowl and the Red fish canapé bowl. The Oyster deep plate in ceramic at Ø23 cm rounds off the group with a flatter, plate-like format. The shellfish motifs are an obvious choice for serving shellfish, but also work well as colourful bowls for dips and snacks.

Fruit and vegetables: lemon, strawberry, watermelon and garlic

A large part of the range is shaped like fruit and vegetables. Lemon appears in several versions: the Lemon bowl (two variants) and the Small lemon bowl, all from Caja Company, plus the Limone bowl in stoneware from Creative Collection. The Strawberry bowl comes in two sizes from Caja Company, and the Watermelon platter, the Garlic bowl (two variants), the Small olive bowl, the Blue fish bowl and the Onion bowl round off the fruit and vegetable motifs. Bowls in this group work well for serving the exact fruit or vegetable they're shaped like, but also make great dip or nut bowls.

Animals and figures: cats, dogs and a toucan

The range also includes bowls with animal motifs. The Cat bowl comes in two versions, a single and a double, and the Dog bowl follows the same figurative style. The Toucan spoon holder in ceramic from Caja Company is shaped like a toucan bird and can be used as a spoon rest or a small serving bowl. The Wild Cat feeding bowl and the Good Dog feeding bowl from GiftCompany are stoneware bowls with simple animal motifs, meant as a pet bowl or as a playful serving bowl for people.

Simple stoneware bowls without figures

Alongside the figurative bowls, the range includes a number of simple, colourful stoneware bowls with no motif. The Crisps bowl, the Popcorn bowl, the Flower platter, the Nini bowl (two variants) and the Soline platter (two variants) are all from Bloomingville or Creative Collection and are kept in a calm, graphic style, where colour and glaze carry the expression instead of a figurative motif. The Shakti bowl follows the same line. These bowls are versatile and suit anything from snacks to salad.

Metal feeding bowls in bold colours

GiftCompany is behind a series of metal feeding bowls, including the Caviar feeding bowl in neon orange, the Champagne feeding bowl in pink and the Happy Hour feeding bowl in neon red, plus the Happy Hour feeding bowl in stoneware. The metal bowls stand out from the rest of the range with their bold, glossy colours and work well as a bottle cooler for drinks or as an eye-catcher filled with ice and drinks at a party table.

Comparing the motif types

Motif group	Material	Examples	Typically used for
Shellfish and fish	Ceramic	Oyster bowl, Mussel bowl, fish canapé bowls	Shellfish, tapas, dips
Fruit and vegetables	Ceramic, stoneware	Lemon bowl, Strawberry bowl, Garlic bowl	Fruit, snacks, garlic and onions
Animals and figures	Ceramic, stoneware	Cat bowl, Dog bowl, Toucan spoon holder	Snacks, pet food, playful serving
Simple stoneware bowls	Stoneware	Crisps bowl, Popcorn bowl, Nini bowl	Crisps, popcorn, salad, versatile serving
Metal feeding bowls	Metal	Caviar, Champagne, Happy Hour feeding bowl	Bottle cooler, party table, drinks

Material: ceramic, stoneware, dolomite and metal

Most of our serving bowls are made from ceramic, often hand-painted, which means colours and details can vary slightly from bowl to bowl. Stoneware is a more densely fired material than ordinary ceramic and is used particularly for the simple bowls from Bloomingville and Creative Collection, where it gives a sturdy, everyday-durable surface. The Walnut bowl from &Klevering is made from dolomite, a type of ceramic fired with dolomite mineral that gives a light, matte surface. The feeding bowls from GiftCompany are made from metal with a glossy, coloured finish.

How to care for your serving bowls

• Wash ceramic and stoneware bowls by hand or at a low temperature in the dishwasher to protect the glaze and hand-painted details.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes, such as pouring boiling liquid into a cold bowl, as this can crack the glaze.
• Wipe the metal feeding bowls with a soft cloth after use to keep the glossy surface looking its best.
• Stack bowls carefully, and place a sheet of kitchen paper between them if you're stacking several hand-painted bowls on top of each other.

Sizes of serving bowls

The size of a serving bowl determines whether it should carry the main dish or serve as a small detail on the side. The range includes everything from small canapé and dip bowls to large bowls that can hold an entire salad or a pile of fruit.

The Oyster series from Caja Company: four sizes

The Oyster bowls from Caja Company, known as the Giada series, come in four sizes: small (Ø8 cm), medium (Ø14 cm), Ø20 cm and large (Ø25 cm). The smaller sizes suit individual portions or dip bowls, while the large Ø25 cm bowl can hold a full portion of oysters or other shellfish for several people.

Bowl	Size	Typically used for
Oyster bowl, small	Ø8 cm	Individual portion, dip
Oyster bowl, medium	Ø14 cm	Small serving
Oyster bowl	Ø20 cm	Serving for several
Oyster bowl, large	Ø25 cm	Main serving, several people

Small canapé and dip bowls

The canapé bowls, such as the Lime fish, Blue fish and Red fish canapé bowl, along with the smaller lemon and garlic bowls, all sit at the small end of the range and are well suited as dip bowls or for individual portions of olives, nuts or salt.

Large bowls for shared serving

The Crisps bowl, the Popcorn bowl, the Flower platter, the Soline platter (the large variant) and the Shakti bowl are among the larger bowls in the range and work well for shared serving of snacks, salad or fruit for several people.

How to use the serving bowls

Serving bowls are versatile, and how you use them depends on motif, size and occasion.

For tapas and dinner with guests

The smaller bowls, such as the Small olive bowl, the canapé bowls and the small lemon and garlic bowls, are ideal for a tapas spread, where several small bowls of olives, nuts, dips and marinated vegetables are set out together. Feel free to mix motifs so the table gets a playful, varied look, and keep the smallest bowls close together so guests can easily reach them all. Also see our selection of tapas platters and cheese boards.

For fruit and snacks in everyday life

The Lemon bowl, the Strawberry bowl and the other fruit motifs are naturally suited to keeping fruit organised in the kitchen, while also being decorative enough to leave out on the kitchen counter or dining table. The Crisps bowl and the Popcorn bowl are perfect for movie night or a lazy Sunday.

For shellfish and celebrations

The Oyster series from Caja Company and the other shellfish motifs are a natural choice when the menu includes oysters, mussels or prawns. Combine several sizes from the same series so that both the shellfish itself and accompaniments like lemon and sauce each get their own bowl.

For drinks and chilled serving

The metal feeding bowls from GiftCompany, including the Caviar feeding bowl and the Champagne feeding bowl, work well as a cooler for bottles or cans, or to keep ice chilled at a party table. Their glossy, coloured surface makes them an eye-catcher, even when they're simply filled with ice. Try setting out a feeding bowl in neon orange or neon red as a standalone splash of colour on a table otherwise kept in more neutral tones.

For pets or as a playful guest bowl

The Wild Cat and Good Dog feeding bowls from GiftCompany can be used as a fun bowl for your pet's food and water, but also work as a playful serving bowl for snacks if you want a more relaxed look on the table.

How to choose the right serving bowl

With more than 50 different bowls in the range, it can be hard to know where to start. Use the guide below to find the bowl that suits your occasion.

Your situation	Our recommendation
You need to serve oysters or other shellfish	The Oyster series from Caja Company in the size that suits your guest count
You need a dip bowl	The canapé bowls or the small lemon and garlic bowls
You want to keep fruit out in the kitchen	The Lemon bowl or the Strawberry bowl
You need to serve crisps or popcorn	The Crisps bowl or the Popcorn bowl
You want a simple, colourful everyday bowl	The Nini bowl or the Soline platter
You need a cooler for drinks	A metal feeding bowl from GiftCompany
You want a playful, figurative look	The Cat bowl, the Dog bowl or the Toucan spoon holder
The bowl needs to serve a party with many guests	Large bowls such as the Shakti bowl or the Flower platter

Brands behind our serving bowls

The range brings together several brands, each with its own style. Caja Company is behind most of the figurative motifs, such as the lemon, strawberry, oyster and crab bowls, often in hand-painted ceramic. Bloomingville and Creative Collection supply the simple, colourful stoneware bowls without a figurative motif, such as the Crisps bowl, the Popcorn bowl and the Nini bowl. GiftCompany is behind the metal feeding bowls and the more playful animal bowls like Wild Cat and Good Dog. &Klevering contributes shellfish motifs in a graphic style along with the Walnut bowl in dolomite, while Rice and Anna + Nina each contribute a single bowl to the range, a small flower bowl and a small bowl with a shell motif respectively.

Serving bowls as a gift

A single colourful bowl or a small set of canapé bowls is an easy but thoughtful gift idea, as it's both decorative and used in everyday life. A bowl shaped like the recipient's favourite fruit, for example lemon or strawberry, gives the gift a personal touch, while one of the large bowls, such as the Crisps bowl or the Shakti bowl, makes a great housewarming or wedding gift for someone who needs something to bring out when they have guests. See more ideas under hostess gifts and housewarming gifts.

Put together a table with several serving bowls

Because the range spans so many motifs and colours, it's easy to put together a table where the bowls speak to each other without being identical. A good rule of thumb is to stick to two or three motif groups at a time, for example shellfish and lemon, or fruit and simple stoneware bowls, so the table feels coherent without becoming cluttered. Feel free to mix sizes, so the large bowls carry the main element while the small dip and canapé bowls fill the gaps between the other dishes. For a more uniform look, choose several bowls from the same series instead, for example the Oyster series in two or three of the four sizes.

Frequently asked questions about serving bowls

What material are the serving bowls made from?

Most bowls are made from ceramic, often hand-painted. Some of the simple bowls are in stoneware, the Walnut bowl is in dolomite, and the feeding bowls from GiftCompany are in metal.

What motifs are available in the range?

The range spans shellfish and fish motifs like oysters, mussels and crabs, fruit and vegetable motifs like lemon, strawberry and garlic, and animal figures like cats, dogs and a toucan. There are also simple stoneware bowls without a figurative motif.

How many sizes does the Oyster series come in?

The Oyster series from Caja Company comes in four sizes: small (Ø8 cm), medium (Ø14 cm), Ø20 cm and large (Ø25 cm).

Are the bowls dishwasher-safe?

Ceramic and stoneware bowls generally tolerate the dishwasher at low temperature, but we recommend hand-washing hand-painted bowls to protect colours and details.

Which bowls are best for dips and tapas?

The smaller bowls, such as the canapé bowls and the small lemon and garlic bowls, are ideal as dip bowls or for individual portions at a tapas spread.

Are the bowls safe for hot food?

Avoid pouring boiling liquid directly into a cold bowl, as sudden temperature changes can crack the glaze. Let hot food cool slightly before placing it in a ceramic bowl.

Which bowls suit serving shellfish?

The Oyster series from Caja Company, the Oyster bowl and the Mussel bowl from &Klevering, and the canapé bowls with a fish motif are all great choices for shellfish.

Are there bowls with animal motifs?

Yes. The Cat bowl, the Dog bowl, the Toucan spoon holder, the Wild Cat feeding bowl and the Good Dog feeding bowl are all examples of bowls with animal motifs in the range.

What's the difference between ceramic and stoneware?

Stoneware is a more densely fired material than ordinary ceramic, giving it a more durable surface. Both materials are used in the range, often depending on whether the bowl is figurative or simple in expression.

Can the metal feeding bowls be used for anything other than food?

Yes, they work well as a cooler for bottles and cans or to keep ice chilled at a party table.

Are the bowls hand-painted?

Many of the bowls, especially from Caja Company, are hand-painted, which means colours and details can vary slightly from bowl to bowl.

Can I mix several motifs on the same table?

Yes. Stick to two or three motif groups at a time, for example shellfish and lemon, so the table feels coherent while the different shapes and colours still add variety.

Are the bowls a good gift idea?

Yes. A single colourful bowl or a small set of canapé bowls is an easy but personal gift, as it's both decorative and used in everyday life.