Hand rattle

Parrot and Macaw Bird Calabash Christmas tree ornament and hand rattle

These unique Christmas tree ornaments and rattles are made from calabash tree pods (gourds) by native artisans from the Ampiyacu River region of the Peruvian Amazon.  This rattle features the figure of a parrot or larger relative macaw - well-known in the Amazon and other parts of Latin America for their ability to crack nuts with their strong beaks, loud and complex (sometimes human-like) calls, and potentially long lives.  They are pictured in almost every scene and art representing tropical forests and some species have become endangered due to forest destruction and their capture for the trade in wild birds.     

This rattle has a chambira palm fiber chord allows it to be hung from a Christmas tree.  The beads inside also make it a great rattle that fits in the palm of your hand. 

Please remember that the artisan carves these rattles one at a time so the exact design of the animal and shape of the calabash pod will vary from the photo shown of this model.

Model: ORWB012 (parrot); ORWB028 (macaw)