Chang Yueh's poem "Extolling the Gourd" says it well: Fine wine fills the hanging gourds, Truly pure, they form a lovely sight-- Some, like a snail's house, pulling in their heads; Some, like a crane's neck, stretching out their tops.
古人珍賞的壺蘆，並不似現代的工藝壺蘆，要經過雕飾，唐朝詩人張說的「詠瓢」詩說得好：美酒酌懸瓢，真淳好相映，蝸房卷墮首，鶴頸抽長柄。