Peru has been the home to this beautiful and intricate art form for more than 4,500 years. Known locally as 'Mate Burilado' from the word for gourd, mate, and the ‘Burin’ engraving tool. Ancient gourds have been found that combine a combination of fine-line hatching, pyrography (selective scorching) and carving.

Gourds have actually been used continuously since ancient times and although contemporary artists now incorporate modern designs, many of the prehistoric motifs are still present. As a result of this the gourds provide a fascinating insight into the history of the daily life of people over the years.

Religious ceremonies and beliefs, political events and social activities are all recorded in exquisite detail. After European contact, paints and dyes began to be used but the carving aspect of the gourds has remained fundamental.

These days, the gourds are mostly grown in Peru’s coastal areas where the climate is hot and there is access to abundant water. The main carving areas are in the mountains to the south east with particular focus on the Huancayo area. From here the finished gourds are delivered to the major market towns of the country such as Cuzco, Ayacucho and Lima.

The gourds are highly localized and the various techniques and designs are often specific to each village. In Huancayo, the gourds are often scorched first and are then carved using a burin.

After this they are rubbed with chalk to highlight the cut lines. In Ayacucho however, the lines are cut first before being rubbed with charcoal to reveal the designs.

A later and very popular innovation was to use the natural shape of the long-necked gourds to create sculptural objects such as birds, animals and fish.