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.

Natural rafia fibres twined and woven into a band with long two-ply twined fringe at one end is looped together end to end.

Small round basketry-covered gourd container with round opening and a thin twined string handle.

Almost square, textured cloth. Cropped woven raffia in a pattern of yellow and brown diamond shapes, with a fringe all around edges.

A deep coiled circular basket (part a) with a lid (part b). The main design consists of alternating vertical bands of purple, red, natural, and black colours. The lid (part b) is conical with a straight inner rim which fits into the basket.

Cape composed of palm fibres sewn together with a twined fibre rope. The ends of the palm fibres hang loose at the bottom. The cape has two twined rope loops at the sides of the top and a twined tie at the centre.

Cape composed of palm fibres sewn together with a twined fibre rope. The ends of the palm fibres hang loose at the bottom. The cape has thick double-twined rope ties at the neck.

Fish trap made of raffia. Outer pieces are tied around a circular frame in a cone shape and the top is secured. Smaller pieces are tied around inside of the bottom circular frame, creating an inner cone. The top of the inner cone is left open.

Black portrait mask with thick purple rattan fringe. The dark brown mask has a rounded top with a brim, two open eyeholes, a long nose bent at a right angle and lips off to the left side of the mask. The back is lined with burlap, secured using small holes around the edge. The thick purple fringe surrounding the mask is also attached using the small holes.

Yellow-brown fringe. The fringe is made of short yellow strands knotted around a twisted cord. The ends of the cord are used as ties.