Gallery: Gourd Art and Creativity


Gourds have a long rich history, with evidence suggesting that they are among the oldest cultivated plants, used by humans for thousands of years as containers, utensils, musical instruments and in sacred rituals and religious rites . The cultivation of gourds dates back to before 13,000 BCE, indicating their very early domestication. Gourds were particularly useful for early human societies before the advent of pottery and settled village life, making them part of the human family from very ancient times.


Gourd with kanji for Tao

The decorated gourds on this page were created in the Spring and Summer of 2004 in Napa, California. They were grown in a field behind one of the public schools there. All the gourds were of the large variety some measuring 2 feet in length and over a foot in diameter.

Duck, goose and other water foul feathers were used to decorate them along with acrylic pigments, leather, bamboo and other materials. 

Blue bulb gourd vase with beautiful feathers
 
Gourd vase with cowrie shells and
beautiful blue feathers
Gourd painted gold with rim band and
feather decorations

























Spirit gourd for protecting the space (2 images)



Thick basket gourd for gathering fruit, herbs and nuts
with bamboo handle


Two gourds decorated with many feathers and tiny bells (right)


Shamans use tiny gourds like this
as containers for their allies and 
spirit guides.


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