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AEDCristian Tonino Alfaro Nunez (Peruvian) Andean Cosmos, Sun and Moon Master Hand-Engraved Gourd Sculpture
About Seller
1209 Mountain Road PL NE, STE N
Albuquerque, NM 87110
United States
Timed Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $50 |
| $500 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
About Auction
TimedAug 7, 2026 - Aug 20, 2026
A curated selection of international fine art, original Peruvian art, and master artisan ceramics. Timed Auction • All Lots Subject to Confidential Reserve Gallery Arts & Auctions LLC sales@galleryartsauction.com
View Full Catalog (296)
- Lot Description
This exceptional Andean Cosmos, Sun and Moon is a completely original hand-engraved gourd sculpture by distinguished Peruvian master artisan Cristian Tonino Alfaro Nunez. Created from a natural calabash using the ancestral technique of mate burilado, the work develops an extraordinarily dense narrative across the entire rounded surface, bringing together human figures, animals, architectural forms, mountains, celestial imagery, and symbols associated with the cultural world of the Peruvian Andes.
One of the most striking elements of the composition is the dramatic presence of the sun, crescent moon, and stars, which appear alongside scenes of communal and ancestral life. Below these celestial motifs, numerous finely engraved figures interact within architectural and natural settings, creating the impression of a world in which people, animals, landscape, and the heavens exist as parts of a single interconnected visual narrative.
The remarkable turquoise-blue detailing creates a powerful contrast against the natural warm brown surface of the gourd. This unusual chromatic treatment emphasizes the thousands of individually engraved lines and gives the sculpture an especially vivid and contemporary presence while preserving the unmistakable character of traditional Peruvian mate burilado.
Throughout the composition, the viewer discovers an extraordinary variety of imagery: human figures engaged in communal activities, animals moving through the landscape, mountain forms, vegetation, architectural structures, and celestial symbols. Because the narrative extends continuously around the curved surface, the work must be viewed from multiple angles, revealing new scenes and details with each turn.
The entire surface has been meticulously worked by hand with a burin. Fine incised lines, stippling, cross-hatching, darkened passages, and carefully controlled colored accents create remarkable depth and graphic complexity. The technical precision required to execute such an extensive composition on an organic curved surface demonstrates the exceptional patience and mastery associated with the finest examples of this traditional Peruvian art form.
Beyond its decorative impact, the work celebrates the enduring relationship between Andean cultural memory, community, nature, and the celestial world. Its imagery evokes a vision in which earthly life and the wider cosmos are inseparable, transforming the natural gourd into a complex sculptural narrative of Peruvian identity and ancestral heritage.
With its exceptional density of engraving, distinctive turquoise palette, commanding spherical form, and extraordinary narrative surface, this original sculpture is a particularly striking example of contemporary Peruvian folk art and an important collector's piece suitable for a private collection, gallery, cultural institution, or refined interior.
Works by the artist have previously been presented through auctions organized by the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI).
ARTIST
Cristian Tonino Alfaro Nunez is a distinguished Peruvian master of mate burilado from Cochas Grande, Junin, one of Peru's most important centers of traditional gourd engraving. He belongs to the renowned Alfaro Nunez family, whose members have preserved and developed this ancestral artistic tradition across generations.
Recognized for the extraordinary refinement, density, and originality of his engraved gourds, Alfaro Nunez combines traditional technique with highly ambitious narrative compositions. His works are characterized by meticulous execution, complex imagery, and an exceptional ability to transform the natural surface of the calabash into a continuous sculptural world.
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from the artist in Peru for Gallery Arts & Auctions Co.
AUTHENTICITY
This work is a completely original and unique creation by Cristian Tonino Alfaro Nunez and was acquired directly from the artist.
A Certificate of Authenticity issued by the artist may be provided upon request, when available.
MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUE
Natural gourd individually selected, prepared, and meticulously hand-engraved with a burin, incorporating incised linear work, stippling, cross-hatching, darkened detailing, and contrasting turquoise-colored decorative accents throughout the composition.
DIMENSIONS
Height: 7 1/2 in.
Diameter: 7 in.COLLECTION NOTE
Carefully selected directly from the artist in Peru by Gallery Arts & Auctions Co. as part of its ongoing effort to present exceptional examples of master Peruvian folk art. This unique work is distinguished by its unusual turquoise coloration, extensive celestial imagery, extraordinary density of engraved figures, and the remarkable technical precision required to develop such a complex narrative across the entire curved surface of the natural gourd.
Condition
Excellent overall condition. The natural gourd structure, intricate hand-engraved decoration, and contrasting turquoise-colored detailing remain beautifully preserved, with no visible repairs or restorations. Minor variations in surface, coloration, and form are inherent to the organic material and entirely handmade production.
- Provenance
Selected in Peru in collaboration with the artists and master artisans represented in this collection, and presented by Gallery Arts & Auctions Co. as part of its selection of original Peruvian art and master craftsmanship.
The collection brings together authentic works created by recognized Peruvian artists and master artisans, representing artistic traditions from the Andes, the Amazon, and other culturally significant regions of Peru. Many of the represented artists have participated in important exhibitions, cultural programs, museums, art fairs, and international presentations.
Each work reflects the exceptional craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and artistic identity of Peru, preserving techniques and traditions passed down through generations while presenting them to collectors worldwide.
- Shipping Info
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