When we tell people that we are gourd and fiber artists, the first question we are usually asked is, "Oh, what is a gourd?"

Gourds were some of the earliest plant species to be utilized by humans, and were originally used as containers or vessels before clay or stone pottery.  The original and evolutional shape of clay pottery is thought to have been modeled on the shape of certain gourd varieties.  Very early specimens of gourd shells discovered (for example, in Peru) indicate the use of gourds as a means of recording events of the time.  It has also been found that gourd skins were used to replace missing parts of skulls back in the Neolithic times as part of primitive surgery.

The gourds we use are from the Cucurbitaceae family of plants.  They are grown on large vines similar to pumpkins.  After they are harvested and dried, their shells are thick, hard and lightweight.  We clean, cut and decorate each gourd individually.  Each finished gourd is a numbered, original piece of art hand crafted with care by the artisans at Corona Gourd Company.

Many cultures believe that gourds are a source of good health, or that they are a resting place for good spirits.  It is our hope when you own of one of our gourds that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.