Preliminary identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
This whimsical folk art piece is a dried, hollowed-out natural gourd masterfully transformed into a miniature hot air balloon. It features a hand-painted Southwestern pueblo scene on the balloon's envelope, complete with multi-tiered pink adobe dwellings, ladders, and evergreen trees, tapering down to a painted basket under a blue sky.
Story
Created in 1997 by artist Shirley Luhnow, this piece captures the magic of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It cleverly turns a natural desert gourd into a floating canvas celebrating traditional Pueblo architecture.
Maker / Origin
Shirley Luhnow is a regional American folk artist known for her creative use of natural gourds as three-dimensional canvases. Her work frequently celebrates the landscapes, architecture, and cultural events of the American Southwest, particularly hot air ballooning.
Condition & Value
The gourd appears to be in excellent condition with no visible cracks, dents, or paint loss. The high-gloss varnish has preserved the colors beautifully, and the hanging loop is intact. Excellent preservation of organic material commands the higher end of the value range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.