I bought this 25 years ago at a very strange local estate sale. It was hanging on the wall when you went down the basement stairs which is the extent of my knowledge of this. I think it's probably African but it could be Native American for all I know. Sitting upright it's about 10.5" tall including the handle - to the top of the gourd about 6.25". The tip of the gourd was cut off, turned upside down and beaded so it can be slid up & down the handle this creating a lid. The 1" wide handle is heavy funky tanned leather with the beaded part loosely sewn onto it (band was made seperately). The beaded "skirt" fits the gourd bulge perfectly & hangs there with a heavy leather strap under it and around the bottom of the gourd held together with thin twine. This is a different type of leather from the strap but is equally funky. All around the bottom edge of the beaded skirt is an almost 3/4" long edge of looped metal chains which make a very appealing noise against the gourd. The gourd is uncracked, undamaged & you could probably fill it with water for your next hike although NOTHING on God's Earth would make me do such a thing.
FLAWS: there are 3 strands of beads that have come loose at one end from the strand that goes around the lid. There's a 1/2" wide gap in the chain loop - possibly original. There's a 3/4" long place on the edge of the beading on the handle where that one edge bead is long gone.
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