A carved gourd maraca from the Peruvian Andes, its dark surface incised entirely by hand with birds, fish, leaves, and fine geometric line work. The pale cut lines glow against the deep brown shell, and a wrap of bright thread with a few small feathers finishes the long handle. It is small, but it carries the weight of a craft practiced for thousands of years.

Lift it and it answers with a soft seed rattle. Rest it in a bowl or a basket and it becomes a quiet sculpture. This is the rare object that is equal parts instrument and folk art, made to be handled as much as displayed.

No two are alike. Every gourd takes a different shape, every carving a different hand. The piece you receive will be entirely its own.

This listing is for one maraca, chosen for you from our assortment. Because each is carved and wrapped by hand, yours will differ from the examples shown. That is the point.

The Carved Gourd Tradition

These maracas carry Peru's carved gourd tradition, known as mate burilado. In and around the village of Cochas, near Huancayo in the Mantaro Valley, artisans incise dried gourds by hand to tell stories of daily life, animals, and plants, a practice passed down for generations. The same technique gives these rattles their sharp graphic detail.

Details

• Origin: Peru
• Material: Natural gourd, wood handle, thread wrap, feather accent
• Technique: Hand-carved or incised gourd surface (mate burilado)
• Design: Assorted folk motifs
• Sold as: One maraca per order, assorted and selected for you
• Use: Decorative object or light percussion instrument
• Character: Handmade; minor variation in form, finish, and design is expected
• Ships from: Taos, New Mexico

Display and Styling

Display several together in a woven basket, ceramic bowl, or open shelf arrangement. The carved dark gourd surface, colored thread, and feather details make them especially effective in folk-art, music-room, studio, and globally layered interiors.

FAQ

Are the designs identical?
No. Each maraca is handmade, so the carved designs, gourd shape, and thread colors vary.

Can I choose the design?
No. Designs are assorted and we select one for you. Each maraca is one of a kind.

Can they be played?
Yes, they function as light percussion rattles, though they are also strong as decorative folk-art objects.

Are these made in Peru?
Yes. The pieces are labeled Hand Made in Peru.

Explore more handmade folk art in the Peru collection.