A 19th Century Chinese Polychrome and Wooden Carved Wu Lou or Hulu Gourd, a symbol of longevity, happiness, luck and health, the Wu Lou is a gourd fruit, once the fruit was removed and the gourd dried, it was used to store water or medicines to assist people in their journeys, it is thought to represent a giver of life and remover of negative energy or chi, the shape of the Wu Lou symbolizes the earth (bottom half) and heavens (top half) coming together