South America, Northern Peru, ca. mid 20th century CE. A group of eight shamanic wands used by the "curanderos" (healers) and shamans of Indigenous Andean peoples, hand-carved from chonta wood. Each of the staves has elongated ovoid bodies with tapered points, with four presenting carved hands - two right and two left - with either stars or a crescent moon displayed in the palms. The other staffs display finials in four distinct forms: a standing female with arms over her chest; a standing mermaid with one arm crossed over her abdomen; a robed, skull-headed figure representing death; and a standalone skull with crossed bones and a horseshoe beneath. Each wand is covered in a lustrous dark-brown pigment. Size (each are relatively similar): 1.375" W x 19" H (3.5 cm x 48.3 cm).

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#135964

Hands of two staves and woman with arms over her torso have repairs to finial elements with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Each staff has surface wear commensurate with age, small nicks and fading to carved elements, and light fading to pigmentation. Light earthen deposits throughout.