gourd collection 2008-03
The carved art gourd (mate) is the oldest cultural object of Peru, with an uninterrupted history of creation throughout the country for 5,000 years. The oldest known gourd art, with clear patterns of wildcats and snakes, was discovered in Huaca Prieta, an archeological site from the late pre-ceramic period (c. 3500-1800 bce) in northern Peru.
Today, as in the pre-Columbian period, the gourd art is work that reflects the experiences of the artistan, who creates its design, first carved, and then burned into the surface of the gourd with the burilado, a heated tool that represents the living customs and traditions of the Andean people.
The principal sites of production are in the rural communities of Cochas Grande and Cochas Chico, in Huancayo province.
private collection
