Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
A pair of decorative catch-all bowls created by heat-warping vintage 12-inch vinyl LPs into organic, undulating forms. One bowl features the vibrant red '360 Sound' label of Mongo Santamaria’s 1968 Latin-soul masterpiece, while the other utilizes a Columbia Musical Treasury classical compilation.
Story
Mongo Santamaria's 'Soul Bag' was a 1968 explosion of boogaloo and jazz. Decades later, a craftsperson used heat to transform these physical echoes of the 60s into sculptural art, giving a scratched record a second life as a conversation piece.
Maker / Origin
While the records were pressed by Columbia, the bowls are the work of an anonymous artisan from the 'upcycling' movement. This craft gained massive popularity in the 1990s and 2000s as music lovers sought ways to preserve the beautiful typography and nostalgia of vinyl that was too damaged to play.
Condition & Value
The labels appear remarkably well-preserved despite the heat treatment. There is minor surface scuffing consistent with the records' previous life as playable media. Condition is good for decorative use; value is stable. Value is driven by the specific artist on the label and the quality of the fluting.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.