STOLEN PONIES Dipper Gourd

Description

The greatest thing about carving and painting gourds is that they become not just an object of fine art but also serve a practical purpose. This decorated/painted dipper gourd measures about 12 inches from the top of the handle to the bowl. The bowl is about 4 inches by 4 inches and 2 3/4 inches deep.

It is decorated with brown suede leather on the handle with a collar of brown rabbit fur at each end. Two feathers and beads flow from the top of the handle, one Crow and one Pheasant. The base of the dipper (the bowl) depicts running ponies. A fine piece of traditional art that serves a practical purpose also.
This dipper gourd has a light coating of polyurethane on the outside and several coats on the inside of the bowl.

This dipper gourd has been cleansed in the Old Way with sage and sweet grass as the Grandfathers taught.

Creating this dipper gourd brought back memories for me of both my Grandfather and my Grandmother. My Grandfather grew dipper gourds (as I now do) and many other types of gourds. There was not a gourd in their home that was not decorated no matter its practical domestic/sacred purpose. These were the canvas' that my Grandmother painted on.

In the back by the pump, my Grandfather had a decorated dipper gourd hanging. I remember how fresh the cool water tasted and how magical it was to drink from that dipper gourd. Around the pump was an array of decorated gourds holding everything from soaking acorns to fresh picked vegetables from the garden waiting to be washed.

It was at this pump that I learned to leave the big kettle gourd filled with water so that the next person to use it would have water to prime the pump. One of my first lessons in sharing and doing for others. For more stories about the Old Ways visit my blog at: http://theGrandfathersSpeak.blogspot.com

Added on Sep 19, 2009