Description:

Latin American, Panama, Kuna People, early 20th century CE. A wooden figure known as a nuchu carved by the indigenous people of Panama. The figure stands upright with arms resting across the chest and angular shoulders or wings. In Kuna traditional medicinal practice, bad spirits of illness - known as "ponis" - must be expelled from the body by a traditional medicine man called an "inatuledi." The medicine man removes the illness using nuchu - good spirits - who are represented in wooden carvings. Nuchus are highly cherished by the Kuna people and, once the ill person has been healed, the nuchu is passed down from generation to generation. Size: 2.6" Diameter x 10.25" H (6.6 cm x 26 cm); 15.25" H (38.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-Uncommon Objects, Austin, Texas, USA

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#177989

  • Condition: Stable pressure fissures throughout. Loss and abrasion to top of head. Nice patina throughout.

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November 30, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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