Carved and painted gourds were both traditional sources of wealth for Sara-Nar women and entry points to a cash economy. Women artists burned designs into the surface of the gourds with a hot blade, and, in later years, used nail polish and lipstick to enhance each object’s beauty. In the independence era, women sold these containers in city markets to obtain Central African francs. The more intricate a bowl’s design, the more valuable it was. When not in use, women stacked them outside their homes for all to see.