Lot 68A
Latin American, Panama, Kuna People, ca. early 20th century CE. A lovely pair of hand-carved wood staffs, each presenting a lengthy, slender form and topped by a male figure. Dressed in long coats and pants, the figures stand atop slightly bent legs on a discoid plinth with their arms hanging before them. Each of their stylized faces displays a prominent brow and a projecting nose, capped by a thick coiffure and a top hat. The shorter staff boasts liberal remains of a chalky sky-blue pigment, while the taller showcases paint in hues of burgundy, black, white, and glaucous. Size of largest: 1.7" W x 39.3" H (4.3 cm x 99.8 cm)
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 called an "inatuledi." Healing staves like this example are used to intimidate and drive away the "bonigana," a spiritual entity that the Kuna believe is a major cause of illness and disease, by acting as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual realms.
Provenance: ex-Cathryn Cootner Estate, Sonoma, California, USA
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#169027
- Condition: More petite staff has a few large stable fissures to body of staff and figure. Larger staff has 1 stable fissure to body of staff. Both have nicks, chips, and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, both are nice with lovely patina and liberal remains of pigment.
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