| LARGE PAINTED LATIN AMERICAN GOURD - ANIMAL MOTIF |
| THIS IS A NICE LARGE CARVED EDGE HAND PAINTED GOURD THAT I BELIEVE TO BE FROM LATIN AMERICA, PROBABLY TOWARDS CENTRAL AMERICA. IT IS GENERALLY ROUND WITH THE NUANCES OF A NATURAL GOURD AND IS APRX 11" IN DIAMETER AND 7" TALL. THE TOP IS CARVED OFF WITH A "SCALLOPED" CUT AND THE INSIDE IS PAINTED A BROWNISH COLOR AND THE OUTSIDE IS A GREEN GROUND WITH DELICATELY INCISED TEXTURES OF ANIMALS, THEIR FUR OR FEATHERS AND LINE DESIGN PATTERNS. OVER THAT IS HAND PAINTED OR BURNISHED SILVER, BLUE, RED, BROWN AND ORANGE ACCENTS. TO ME, IT IS WONDERFULLY PLANNED AND SPATIALLY ENGINEERED -- JUST ALONG THE SIDE AREAS I SEE THE SHAPES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF WHAT I THINK ARE DOGS, FOXES, OWLS, RABBITS, FISH, SQUIRRELS, CATS (OF SOME TYPE), HERONS OR CRANES, RAVENS, BUTTERFLIES, FLOWERS AND OTHER PLANTS AND EVEN ARMADILLOS !! THE BOTTOM IS ALSO AWESOME -- IT IS DESIGN MOTIFS ONLY AND HAVE SOME AZTEC ELEMENTS (SEE PHOTO). IT IS TRULY AN ART OBJECT, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD IT IS BUT IT IS IN WONDERFUL CONDITION AND, OF COURSE, BEING A GOURD IT IS LIGHT - ONLY ABOUT 1 1/2 POUNDS. |
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