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THBEarly 20th C. Panamanian Kuna Wood Figure, Nuchu
Lot 200a
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,200 - $1,800
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| $300 | $50 |
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
May 18, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-05-18 10:00:00
2023-05-18 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient | Asian | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-asian-ethnographic-art-12797
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient, and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Satisfaction guaranteed. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient, and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Satisfaction guaranteed. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (399)
- Lot Description
Latin American, Panama, Kuna People, ca. early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden figure known as a nuchu (uchu) by the indigenous Kuna (or Guna) people of Panama and Colombia. Standing upright with arms parallel to his body, his large head features a characteristic visage dominated by a heavy brow above sunken, inlaid seed eyes, a prominent nose, and a straight mouth. Nuchugana (plural of nuchu) are carved to represent "wakka" - non-Guna people - and carvers frequently use powerful figures for models believing that they will inspire powerful spirits. As a result, nuchu figures frequently depict politicians (Eisenhower, Churchill, JFK), soldiers (Macarthur, Eisenhower), priests, or royalty. This example wears a flat hat suggesting he is a Westerner and is additionally adorned by liberal remains of brown and black pigments. Size: 3.4" W x 15.6" H (8.6 cm x 39.6 cm); 20" H (50.8 cm) on included custom stand.
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." 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.
Provenance: ex-Uncommon Objects, Austin, Texas, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#177991Missing proper right eye. Expected chips, nicks, and abrasions, as well as stable fissures to wood, all commensurate with age. Liberal remaining detail and pigments. Nice patina throughout.Condition
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