Among the Tukano of the northwestern Amazon, stories abound of visits to the animal world, of people turning into animals to learn about their habits, and of animals teaching men how to utilize certain resources. Shamanic knowledge contains detailed descriptions of these encounters, and many shamans, or payés, claim to have acquired wisdom from animals that revealed an unexpected food source or a cure for illness. This necklace with finely carved animal and human figurines may have been worn by a payé to acknowledge this relationship.


Entre los Tukano del Noreste Amazónico, abundan las historias de visitas al mundo animal, de gente que se convierte en animales para aprender sus hábitos, y de animales enseñando a los hombres cómo utilizar ciertos recursos. El conocimiento chamánico contiene descripciones detalladas de estos encuentros, y muchos chamanes, o payés, dicen haber adquirido sabiduría de los animales para encontrar comida en algún lugar inesperado, o curas para enfermedades. Este collar con figurillas humanas y animales finamente talladas puede haber sido usado por un payé en reconocimiento de esta relación.

Oblong, rounded, brown piece that tapers at both ends. Has an animal head that has circular eyes with geometric patterns. There is a thin band around the 'waistline' separating the geometric designs on the head from the rest of the plain body. White clay emphasizes designs.

Small cream coloured sculpture of a human figure carved out of vegetable ivory. Figure is turning pages of a book with a smaller figure on their knees beside him. Both are wearing patterned robes.

Three pieces of tagua nut (vegetable ivory). Part a: a sliced open nut with dark brown skin with striations, a light brown semi-circle at one end, and a light brown-white centre. Part b: a sliced piece of a nut with dark brown skin with striations, a light bown ship, and a light brown-white centre. Part c: a sliced off piece of nut with a dark brown skin with striations and light brown marking at one end and a light brown-white centre.

Whole tagua nut (vegetable ivory) with light brown shell. Skin is white-brown near stem hole.

Whole tagua nut (vegetable ivory); dark brown shell with striations and one light brown circle at one end.

Whole tagua nut (vegetable ivory); dark brown shell with striations and three light brown marks.

Surface of the nut has been scraped considerably. There is a round opening on one end. Shaped like a small elongated coconut.

Oblong, rounded, brown piece that tapers at both ends. Has an animal head that has circular eyes with geometric patterns. There are fractured lines around the 'waistline' separating the geometric designs on the head from the rest of the plain body. White clay emphasizes designs.

Oblong, rounded, brown piece that tapers at both ends. Has an animal head that has circular eyes with geometric patterns. There is a curved band around the 'waistline' separating the geometric designs on the head from the rest of the plain body. Lime used to emphasize design.