Panamanian Kuna Wood Nuchu (1941 Tag)

Latin American, Panama, San Blas Islands, Kuna People, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wooden figure beautifully carved by the indigenous Kuna people of Panama and Colombia, known as a nuchu (uchu). As typical with nuchu, this figure stands upright with one arm holding an object, and minimalist features. The verso has 2 older paper labels - identical in content - they both refer to a story in the February 1941 issue of the National Geographic magazine, the article may have been just a reference text for people unfamiliar with this culture during the pre-internet era. Size: 3" W x 12" H (7.6 cm x 30.5 cm); 13" H (33 cm) on included custom stand. 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." The medicine man removes the illness using a nuchu a good spirit who is represented in wooden carvings. Nuchugana (plural of nuchu) are highly cherished by the Kuna people and, once the ill person has been healed, the nuchu is passed down from generation to generation.