Re: On gurds, pumpkins and calabashes

["David Cooke"]

> From: Christian Folini 
> Reply-To: cosg-living-history-at-egroups.com
> To: cosg-living-history-at-egroups.com
> Subject: On gurds, pumpkins and calabashes
> Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 15:45:59 +0200
But then David asked me for references
> and I quickly ran out of sources. While I was sure I had
> seen them on multiple pictures (most likely Joseph leading Maria
> and Jesus to Aegypt) I could not find them anymore. But the
> In German you have the troublesome parallel that it is all
> called 'Kuerbis'. English and French are more diverse, as
> they make a difference between gurd and pumpkin. It is indeed
> true, that the pumpkin reached Europe only after 1500. But
> already the romans knew to cultivate the gurd. While they
> look similar, it should be noted, that gurd and pumpkin
> have not much in common. They are different species.
>
> So my new drinking bottle and I seem to be on save grounds.
> Thus no need to worry when I want to show it to the girls in future. cheers
>
> christian folini

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Lieber Christian,
wieso willst du dann dein Kürbis den Mädchen zeigen?
I have here to hand the catalogue to the exhibition 'Quelle Gourde',which I 
recently visited in France. You didn't have time to come as you had your 
final exams or some such excuse.
 Translating from French, roughly:there are no archaeological finds of 
gourds made from the calabasse (north african)plants dating from before the 
18th century, in our part of  Europe. From the CUCURBITAES there are many 
species cultivated for their fruits which originated in the mediteranean 
region. Note that the word gourd stems from the latin Cucurbis - Kürbis.
 There is iconography of gourds all over the place, but it was only on 
visiting the exhibition that I noticed their presence in pictures that were 
well known to me. BUT, they all seem, with one exception, to be of - 
leather, ceramic, pewter or wood.The exception: L'espiègle des baladins - 
Lucas de Leyde, eau-forte de 1520. Bibliothéque Nationale de France, 
département des estampes, Cb4 rés.
 I visited the museum of ancient art in Lisbon in February and there saw a 
FEW vegetable gourds, probably calabasses, as still cultivated
there today (I have one for you if you want), and yes, Mary and Joseph, 
flight to Egypt.
> ISBN : 2-905854-28-6 for the exhibition catalogue. david.


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