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Pasos Canada

Peruvian Nativity

Regular price
$26.00 CAD
Regular price
Sale price
$26.00 CAD
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This natural gourd ornament was hand carved, painted and polished by a family of artisans in Peru. This Christmas gourd features 7 wooden figurines in a Nativity scene, each one painted by hand and secured inside the hollowed-out space of the gourd.


The interior is painted a midnight blue while the exterior is painted in white and covered with flowers.

It took 3 days for the artisan to complete this art.


Mate Burilado is an ancient traditional craft of Peru. It means carved gourd in Spanish. It is a symbol of traditions and beliefs for the Andean communities of Peru. There are gourds that are as old as 300 years ago. The gourds were originally used as containers for carrying food from the Peruvian highlands. Traditional Gourds were carved with day-to-day activities, myths, dances and Andean traditions. Carved gourds showcased the stories of how people lived in the Andean Mountains. Today, gourds are carved with simple patterns for decorative purposes. The gourds are washed, peeled and dried in sun for 10-15 days. After the gourd is dried, the artist sketches their design on the gourd. Next, a “buril” or chisel is used to carve the patterns. The engraved gourd is smeared with oil and ash to fill the engravings, thus creating a black detail. The gourds are also burnt with burning piece of wood to create black color on the gourd. Storied gourds are a collection of gourds from Peru that continue to tell us about the craft and skill of Peruvian artisans.


  • Dried mate gourd
  • Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
  • Traditional Peruvian Craft
  • Patterns are created by burning and engraving 
  • Hand carved from natural gourds 
  • Varying gourd sizes 
  • Thread loop for hanging
  • Free Gift box? Yes
  • Weigh: 0.3 lbs
  • Approx.: 3.3" H x 2.8" W x 2.6" D
  • Made in Peru