Carved gourd by A Osoris, Cochas, Peru

This intricately decorated gourd has sat on my bookcase for many years and is unfortunately quite badly faded. We visited Cochas as we'd heard that this is where the best carved gourds are to be found. The leading lady of the gourd decorators was a joyous artisan who seemed to take us to her bosum. Not for the first time I thought: We are all people, we laugh at the same jokes. Extra of giggling girls.