Central America, Panama, San Blas Islands, Kuna / Cuna peoples, ca. late 19th century CE. A fine hand-carved hardwood figure made by women from the Kuna Indian tribe. The anthropomorphic figure stands upright upon bent knees and the waist is delineated by a small carved groove. A bar-shaped nose, rounded chin, recessed eyes, and plateaued brow comprise the minimalist visage, with the legs, torso, and integral carved hat painted in a pale turquoise pigment. Figures like this example are often referred to as "nuchu" by the native peoples. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 1.5" W x 9.25" H (3.8 cm x 23.5 cm); 10" H (25.4 cm) on included custom stand.

The Kuna people live on a series of thirty islands in the archipelago of San Blas in the Caribbean. This is a region of high humidity, hot temperatures, and intense rains. In their traditional medicinal practice, bad spirits of illness, known as ponis, must be expelled from the body by a traditional medicine man, sometimes called a curendero. He does this using nuchu - good spirits - who are represented in wood carvings. When someone is ill, these figures are placed around their hammock to guard against evil spirits.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA

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#136604

Age-commensurate surface wear and abrasions, small losses to areas of feet and head, with fading to areas of pigmentation, and a few stable fissures along both front and back. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory sticker on back of legs.