Anonymous gift

Gift of Mrs. Eugene Schaefer

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.

Anonymous gift

Florence B. and Carl L. Selden Fund

This garter is loom woven probably without the use of a heddle. The warps and wefts are thread and made with small seed beads. It has a repeated motif of eight-pointed yellow stars with white centers, outlined in blue, red, and clear beads on a blue and cloudy white background. See other garters 50.67.37 a,b,d.shown in additional potograph.

Navajo. The mescal seeds indicate Southern Plains or the southwest region.

This is controversial as to exact use. It might have been a necklace for a small pony or a man's bandolier. Made from hide it has dew claws sewn all around it that rattle when moved and a small medicine cloth bag attached.