Exquisite Mate Burilado

Mates burilados (carved gourds) are an ancient folk-art tradition of the Peruvian Andes, made of calabash (bottle) gourds (Lagenaria siceraria), finely engraved with intricate scenes traditional Peruvian village life. The oldest known examples are from the Huaca Prieta archaeological site on Peru's north coast, and date back more than 3,500 years. Some read as visual travelogues, showing a progression of landmarks along mountain roads. This vintage example depicts a variety of scenes, including herding alpacas and cutting thatch, along with lavish floral and geometric motifs. Early- to mid-20th century.

6” x 3”