Snowy Owl - Gourd Ornament

To cheer and to bring a smile, here comes this handsome snowy owl! Created as an exclusive in collaboration with gourd artists, Lizzet and Rodolfo in Cochas, Peru. Gourd's shape and carved details may vary slightly. 

Peruvian Gourd Tradition

A humble fruit becomes a canvas for storytelling.

For thousands of years, Peruvians have transformed gourds into useful and expressive objects, using them to store food, make music, celebrate life’s moments, and tell stories.

In the Andean village of Cochas, in Peru’s Mantaro Valley, this tradition is still very much alive. Artists use the dried shell of the mate, or gourd, as a natural 3D canvas, carving intricate designs with a fine tool called buril. Their motifs are often inspired by nature, daily life, celebrations, and imagination.

Each gourd is shaped by nature and finished by hand, becoming an ornament, box, or keepsake with a character and story all its own.

Peruvian Craft Traditions

What makes Peruvian craft traditions special is the extraordinary continuity between ancient culture and contemporary artistry. For thousands of years, Peruvian makers have refined techniques in carving, knitting, pottery, weaving, and jewelry making, passing their knowledge from one generation to the next.

Inspired by a rich cultural heritage that includes ancient civilizations such as Caral, Machu Picchu, the treasures of Sipán, Paracas, or the Nazca Lines, today’s artisans continue to reinterpret traditional materials, symbols, and techniques in new and creative ways. The result is craft that feels deeply rooted in tradition while alive and evolving.

Lucuma Designs is proud to work with talented Peruvian artists and help preserve craft traditions, skills, and knowledge that have endured for generations.