| The legendary bulgaris gourd, known as mate burilado in Peru. The oldest carved gourds date back 3,500 years and were found in the huaca prieta temple in the Chicama Valley on Peru’s north coast.
The process of gourd carving
After the gourds are harvested, the artesian removes the outer green skin with a dull knife, exposing the lighter brown color underneath. Then the gourds are cleaned and dried in the hot Peruvian sun.
Some gourds are turned into a variety of beautiful animals and musical instruments. The most detailing variation is that of miniature drawings. Which can only be appreciated with a magnifying glass. The technique involves etching fine lines into the gourd with a scalpel called a buril, creating a series of drawings that generally represents active scenes of Andean life and culture. |
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