Gourds, known as Mates, are a pumpkin like vegetable that grow to be rounded, conical or light bulb shaped with many variations. 

Grown in dry areas of the northern coast of Peru, they are typically harvested in May and then scraped with a dull knife to remove the outer skin and uncover the lighter colored gourd inside. They are cleaned and allowed to dry in the sun for 1 to 3 seasons.

When ready, the artists draw a design onto the gourd with a pencil and proceed to carve a three dimensional version using a Buril, a typical carving tool. The next step in the process uses a technique called pyrography or burning with wood embers that creates rich brown burn marks within the design which the artist controls by varying the intensity of the heat.

Another style of gourd features a black background that is dyed black using oil and charcoal made from local straw over the carved design.  The design shapes are then selectively cleaned to bring the lighter colors to the surface leaving a black background.