Catalogue of other collections
The catalogue has been organised in the following manner: object type/name,
provenance, description, donor name followed by the object's museum number.
BASKET
Karibe, Guyana
This basket has inner and outer sleeves, with designs representing an animal. The
geometric twill-weave pattern is visible only on the outside, where colour is applied to
the plant material. The rims and bases are of cipó with the bark stripped off, to give
stability. Made in the nineteenth century.
Weston-super-Mare Museum collection
101/1993/1
BASKET
Karibe, Guyana
This basket has inner and outer sleeves, with designs representing an animal. The
geometric twill-weave pattern is visible only on the outside, where colour is applied to
the plant material. The rims and bases are of cipó with the bark stripped off, to give
stability. Made in the nineteenth century.
Weston-super-Mare Museum collection
101/1993/2
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/1
DISH
Shipibo-Conibo, Amazon region, Peru
Pre-fire polychrome slip paints made from natural pigments pattern this dish, painted
with brushes of human hair. The geometric designs are said to be derived from the
Southern Cross constellation. The Shipibo-Conibo people believe that the universe is
full of such patterns moving through space, which cover bodies and objects.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/2
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/3
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/4
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/5
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/6
JAR (CHOMO ANI)
Shipibo-Conibo, Ucayali River, Pucallpa, Amazon region, Peru
Hand-built, painted polychrome terra-cotta storage and fermentation jar. The ShipiboConibo people believe that the universe is full of patterns moving through space,
which cover bodies and objects such as this pot. The geometric patterns are said to
resemble the skin patterns of a mythical snake, the Great World Anaconda.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/7
EAR ORNAMENT
Amazon region, Brazil
Ear ornament of green iridescent beetle wing casings and toucan feathers. As well as
sparkling as they catch the light, the wing cases also function as rattles, making a
tinkling sound at the wearer's every movement. Amazonian men wear feather
ornaments and identify with mythical birds during ceremonial dances.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/8
ARMLET
?Shipibo; Amazon region, Brazil
Armlet of beadwork on cotton thread with cotton thread ties. Amerindian access to
imported materials from Europe, such as these coloured glass beads, was one positive
by-product of the arrival of Europeans to the region. Nuts, seeds and bones were used
for decoration before glass beads were introduced.
Mrs. E. Chapman collection, collected in the 1930s by Captain Andrew Elliott
103/2003/9
CERAMIC BOWL
?Wai Wai, Guyana
Small, round-bottomed ceramic bowl with four lugs evenly spaced on the rim. The
outside is glossy black and the insidehas a pattern of dark lines pointing towards the
centre. A large chunk is missing from the rim of the bowl. Linear designs on Wai Wai
ceramics sometimes represent the mythical anaconda.
Weston-super-Mare Museum collection
136/1993/8
CERAMIC PLATE
?Wai Wai, Guyana
Flat-bottomed ceramic plate. The exterior is glossy black and the interior has a faint,
dark, linear painted design. Linear patterns on Wai Wai ceramics sometimes represent
the mythical anaconda. Resin is used to make the exterior glossy. Small pottery
vessels such as this may be used for cooking or containing food.
Weston-super-Mare Museum collection
136/1993/9
BREASTPLATE
Achuar, Ecuador
Elaborate ceremonial breastplate. Made from barkcloth and decorated with feathers,
rows of seeds and painted geometric designs. The feathers are probably toucan and
mealy parrot, the larger ones green with touches of red and blue, and the smaller ones
black, yellow and red. This example was probably made for tourists.
Burchall collection
133/2006
NECKLACE
Guyana
Necklace made from pieces of white-lipped peccary teeth, shaped into points and
threaded onto plant fibre string. Each tooth is suspended from a fine thread, in turn
wrapped around a fine rope of multiple threads.
Weston-super-Mare Museum collection
136/1993/48/1
BAG
Amazon region
Three-way open-weave basketry back-pack, with a pair of shoulder-straps made from
bark. Such baskets may be used for carrying foodstuffs or firewood. Baskets are ideal
lightweight containers for use by mobile people who gather and hunt.
Donor unknown
138/2000/1
BASKETRY BAG
?Maku, ?Yanomami, ?northern Amazon region, ?Venezuela; ?Guyana; ?Brazil
This burden basket has a separate inner layer with a plaited structure made from leaf
fibre. The outer basket is woven from split cane in a three-way open-weave with
hairpin shaping, highlighted in red threads. The handles are made from unprocessed
inner envira bark. Probably made in the nineteenth century.
Donor unknown
138/2000/10
GOURD
Amazon region
A small gourd wrapped in leaf strips. The gourd is wrapped end-to-end and then
overwrapped around the girth and knotted. A strap of twisted leaf with cordage is
knotted around the strap. The cordage is ‘s' twist with a ‘z' two-ply. Probably made in
the nineteenth century.
Donor unknown
138/2000/12
GOURD
Amazon region
Bulbous gourd container with a narrow neck. A short carrying-strap made from
vegetable-fibre string is tied around the neck and attached to the bulb. Original
documentation says that it may have had a 'possible ritual use'.
Donor unknown
138/2000/13
GOURD
Amazon region
Bulbous gourd container with a narrow neck. The bulb is smashed into pieces and the
neck is broken off. An unidentified mass of vegetable-matter is contained inside.
Perhaps, like 138/2000/14, the gourd may have had a 'possible ritual use'.
Donor unknown
138/2000/14
GOURD
Amazon region
Bulbous gourd container with a narrow neck. The gourd is similar in shape to
138/2000/14 and 138/2000/15, but has no opening to suggest that it is a container.
Perhaps it is the raw material for a container.
Donor unknown
138/2000/15
CONTAINER
Amazon region
Rectangular net bag with striped pattern, made from fine vegetable-fibre thread in
three shades of brown. Net bags are practical containers but can be symbolically
associated with women and with the womb.
Donor unknown
138/2000/5
BAG
?Maku, ?Yanomami, Amazon region
A bag with three-way open weave, made from the inner bark of the envira vine. This
style is made by many Amazonian groups. This one may be from the Maku or
Yanomami people. Probably made in thenineteenth century.
Donor unknown
138/2000/8
BASKETRY BAG
?Maku, ?Yanomami, Amazon region
A bag with three-way open weave, made from the inner bark of the envira vine, with
bark bindings and fibre handles. This style is made by many Amazonian groups. This
one may be from the Maku or Yanomami people. Probably made in thenineteenth
century.
Donor unknown
138/2000/9
HEADDRESS
Tukano, South East Amazon, Brazil
Toucan feather headdress on circular cane or palm-leaf frame. Featherwork fixed to a
cord inserted between the two woven layers, the band made separately. Feathers are
related to the spirit world; bird spirits are messengers of the benevolent Sun, dwelling
in the Sky World. Acquired in Rio de Janeiro, 1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/1
BELT
South East Amazon, Brazil
Belt of woven cotton, with a design painted onto the front surface, and fringed with
toucan feathers. Feathers have great significance as they are closely related to the
spirit world. Bird spirits are the messengers of the benevolent Sun, who dwells in the
Sky World. Obtained in Rio de Janeiro in about 1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/2
TOUCAN SKIN ORNAMENT
?Tukano, ?Yanomami, South East Amazon, Brazil
Lower mandible with the throat and breast skin and feathers of a red-breasted toucan,
Ramphastos dicolorus. Such bird skins could be a way of keeping the material until it
was needed, or may have been used as pendants, hung from the beak, or armbands
adhered with resin. Collected before 1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/3 A
TOUCAN SKIN ORNAMENT
?Tukano, ?Yanomami, South East Amazon, Brazil
Lower mandible with skin and feathers of the throat and breast of a red-breasted
toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus. Bird skins such as this may be used as armbands,
adhered with resin. Amazonian men wear feather ornaments and identify with
mythical birds during ceremonial dances. Collected before 1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/3 B
TOUCAN SKIN ORNAMENT
?Tukano, ?Yanomami, South East Amazon, Brazil
Lower mandible with skin and feathers of the throat and breast of a red-breasted
toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus. During feasts, male dancers may carry stuffed birds or
ishpingu, particularly parrots and toucans. A shaman's ishpingu may represent his
familiar animal spirit and can be combined with colour symbolism. Collected before
1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/3 C
TOUCAN SKIN ORNAMENT
?Tukano, ?Yanomami, South East Amazon, Brazil
Lower mandible with skin and feathers of the throat and breast of a red-breasted
toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus. During feasts, male dancers may carry stuffed birds or
ishpingu, particularly parrots and toucans. A shaman's ishpingu may represent his
familiar animal spirit and can be combined with colour symbolism. Collected before
1880.
C.A.R. Radford collection
18/1953/3 D
ARROW
Amazon region
Arrow with plain wooden head, cane shaft and damaged feather flights. The feathers
are bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. Arrows such as this would be used
with a hardwood bow, for hunting small animals such as deer and monkeys. Possibly
collected before 1900.
Donor unknown
388/1997/3
FOUR JAGUAR TEETH
Amazon region, Guyana
Each of these jaguar canines has a hole pierced though it for suspension. Teeth such
as these would have been strung and used as a necklace. A necklace of jaguar teeth
was a great status symbol, demonstrating the wearer's prowess at hunting. Jaguar teeth
could also be powerful protective amulets.
T. Teschemaker collection
39/2000/1-4
CLUB
Guyana
This type of club, carved from very dense hardwood, may have been used by men for
ritual hand-to-hand combat. Rectangular in cross-section, sometimes concave, it is
wide at the hitting end and narrow in the centre. Handgrip bound with cotton thread,
with a string carrying loop.
McAlpine Woods collection
49/1949/110
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. The designs used recall the patterns on reptile skins, a
familiar rainforest sight. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/1
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Made on a portable wooden frame with vertical warps
of cotton or silk grass. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/10
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Before glass beads were introduced, women decorated
their aprons with nuts, seeds and bones. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/2
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. The designs used recall the patterns on reptile skins, a
familiar rainforest sight. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/3
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded weft
of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Before glass beads were introduced, women decorated
their apronss with nuts, seeds and bones. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/4
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Made on a portable wooden frame with vertical warps
of cotton or silk grass. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/5
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. The designs used recall the patterns on reptile skins, a
familiar rainforest sight. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/6
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Made on a portable wooden frame with vertical warps
of cotton or silk grass. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/7
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded weft
of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. Before glass beads were introduced, women decorated
their apronss with nuts, seeds and bones. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/8
WOVEN BEADWORK APRON
Macuxi, Arawak, Guyana
A woman's apron comprising European glass beads threaded onto double-stranded
weft of fine cotton, with fringes and ties of twisted thread. The smaller the apron, the
younger the girl who wore it. The designs used recall the patterns on reptile skins, a
familiar rainforest sight. Early to mid-twentieth century.
W.C. Salmon collection
55/1960/9
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with cane shaft, wooden foreshaft, bone head and damaged feather flight. The
arrow-head is bound to the foreshaft with inner-bark strips, and the flights are bound
to the shaft with fine fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow,
for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/1
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with cane shaft, wooden foreshaft, damaged feather flights, and a iron head
much in the form of a bone head. The arrow-head is bound to the foreshaft with innerbark strips, while the flights are secured with fibre thread. Such arrows would be used
with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/2
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with cane shaft, wooden foreshaft, and bone head. Thread and resin traces
indicate missing feather flights near nock end. The arrow-head is bound to the
foreshaft with inner-bark strips. The foreshaft is marked with triangular patterns. Such
arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/3
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with cane shaft, wooden foreshaft, damaged feather flights and bone head.
Thread and resin secure the feathers to the shaft. The arrow-head is bound to the
foreshaft with inner-bark strips. The foreshaft is marked with triangular patterns. Such
arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/4
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with cane shaft, wooden foreshaft, damaged feather flights and a bone arrowhead. Thread and resin secure the feathers to the shaft and the head to the foreshaft.
The foreshaft is marked with wave patterns. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/5
ARROW FRAGMENT
Brazil
Arrow with bone arrow-head bound to wooden foreshaft and secured with resin. The
foreshaft is marked with triangular patterns. The shaft is missing. Such arrows would
be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/6
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with bone arrow-head bound to a long wooden foreshaft and secured with
resin. The foreshaft is marked faintly with triangular patterns. The shaft has been cut
off. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/7
ARROW
Brazil
Arrow with bone arrow-head bound to a long wooden foreshaft and secured with
resin. The foreshaft is marked faintly with triangular patterns. The shaft has been cut
off. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting.
Mrs. H. Turrall collection
56/1993/8
GOURD WITH CURARE
Amazon region
Used in association with blowpipe darts, this gourd contains a nerve poison, probably
a Strychnos bisindole alkaloid, named ‘calabash curare' because it is stored in gourds.
Death is caused by respiratory paralysis. Curare can remain active for many years,
even in its dried state, as here. Probably collected before 1866.
Probably F.F. Searle collection
738/1997
SHRUNKEN HEAD (TZANTZA)
Shuar, Peru
A shrunken head, its mouth stitched closed with strings. Traditionally, tzantza were
the heads of enemies taken in battle. The skulls were removed and hot sand inserted to
shrink the flesh. However, the fascination of nineteenth century western travellers led
to a flourishing trade in shrunken heads created as souvenirs.
Mr. G. Ellis-Taylor collection
77/1919
SPEAR
Kayapo, Brazil
Highly decorated spear with a bone point, colourful feathers attached to its wooden
shaft with cotton string, and bound with geometrically patterned basketry in dark and
natural shades. The commercial label attached indicates that this example was made
for sale, but traditionally decorated spears were used on important ceremonial
occasions.
Joanna Maxwell-Hyslop collection
81/2001/1
GOURD
Guajajra, Brazil
Small, elaborately decorated gourd, probably made for sale to tourists. The gourd is
decorated with strings of beads made from seeds, and with bundles of red, blue and
yellow feathers.
Joanna Maxwell-Hyslop collection
81/2001/2
BLOWPIPE
?Macuxi; Amazon region
A plain wooden blowpipe, perhaps paxiúba palm wood, with a hollowed centre. This
would be used for shooting poisoned darts, used for hunting small animals, such as
peccary, tapir and monkey. This blowpipe may have had a mouthpiece and sights,
similar to those seen on E 971, but now missing.
Donor unknown
831/1997
ARROW
Amazon region, Peru
Long arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and missing head. The feathers are bound to
the shaft with fine vegetable-fibre thread. The nock is elaborately bound with thread.
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals. Collected
before 1900.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/10
ARROW
Amazon region, Peru
Arrow with a patterned, leaf-shaped bamboo point, a black hardwood foreshaft and
smooth cane shaft. The parallel feather flight has feathers with pinked inner edges.
The nock is finished with decorative cotton threadwork. The arrow would be used
with a hardwood bow, for hunting large animals. Collected before 1938.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/11
SPEAR
Amazon region, Peru
Arrow with a leaf-shaped bamboo point, a black hardwood foreshaft and smooth cane
shaft. The parallel feather flight is made up of feathers with pinked inner edges. The
end of the spear is finished with decorative cotton threadwork. Collected before 1938.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/12
ARROW
Amazon region, Peru
Both sides of the bilaterally double- barbed bamboo point are painted with geometric
designs. The tip of one of the barbs is missing. The white-tipped black feather flight is
bound to the shaft with regularly spaced thread, covered in black resin and pigment
mixture. Used with bow. Collected before 1938.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/13
ARROW
Amazon region, Peru
Arrow with bilaterally double- barbed bamboo point, one barb missing. Hardwood
foreshaft bound with thread and plant strips, smooth cane shaft. The white-tipped
black feather flight is bound to the shaft with thread, covered in black resin and
pigment mixture. Nock finished with decorative cotton threadwork. Collected before
1938.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/14
BOW
Amazon region, Peru
Bow with a curved-rectangular cross-section bound along its length with plant fibre
thread, perhaps cotton, painted with black stripes. Such a bow would be used with
long arrows, for hunting animals. Collected before 1938.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/15
ARROW
Amazon region, Peru
Long arrow with cane shaft, hardwood foreshaft, feather flight and leaf-shaped cane
blade. Blade and flight bound to the shaft with fibre thread. Decorative threadwork at
the nock. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting large animals
such as jaguar and tapir. Collected before 1900.
Purchased at Steven's Auction
88/1938/9
MODEL MANIOC STRAINER (TIPITI)
Amazon region
Small model tipiti, made from diagonally braided reed stems. Such models could be
made for children, travellers or researchers. To strain manioc, the full-sized tipiti is
pushed down to make it squat and filled with manioc pulp, then the bottom loop is
pulled, squeezing out the liquid. Collected before 1945.
Waterfield collection
9/1945/41
MODEL MANIOC STRAINER (TIPITI)
Amazon region
Small model tipiti, made from diagonally braided reed stems. Such models could be
made for children, travellers or researchers. To strain manioc, the full-sized tipiti is
pushed down to make it squat and filled with manioc pulp, then the bottom loop is
pulled, squeezing out the liquid. Collected before 1945.
R Waterfield collection
9/1945/62/1
MINIATURE MANIOC STRAINER (TIPITI)
Amazon region
Small model tipiti, made from diagonally braided reed stems. Such models could be
made for children, travellers or researchers. To strain manioc, the full-sized tipiti is
pushed down to make it squat and filled with manioc pulp, then the bottom loop is
pulled, squeezing out the liquid. Collected before 1945.
R Waterfield collection
9/1945/62/2
HAMMOCK
?Xingu region, ?Mato Grosso, Brazil
Too small even for a baby, this tiny hammock may have been made as a child's toy, or
perhaps it was a child's practice piece. It is made of silky buriti fibre and cotton. Fullsize hammocks hang from posts inside houses. Collected in the late nineteenth or
early twentieth century.
R. Waterfield Collection
9/1945/87
GOURD DISH
Maroon, Suriname
The Maroons were descendents of West African slaves, who worked on European
tobacco and sugar plantations but escaped into the Amazonian forests. This gourd
dish was made by a woman and engraved with typical Maroon designs, combining
African and Amerindian aesthetics. Made in the nineteenth century.
C. Ridgeon collection
99/1975
AWL OF HUMAN BONE
Peru
An awl made of human bone, polished and sharpened to a point at one end.
R. Sainthill collection
A622
COMB
Cocama, San Regis, Amazon region, Peru
Comb with a cane frame, bound with tucum fibre and woven with cotton in a zig-zag
pattern. This comb is of an unusual design for the Amazon region. Most combs have
teeth extending from both sides of the frame, whereas here they extend from one side
only. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1000
HEADDRESS
Amazon region, Peru
This headdress consists of a long strip of fabric, woven from coarse vegetable-fibre
yarn. It may have been wrapped round the head like a halo, as in some Andean
cultures.
F.F. Searle collection
E1001
HEADDRESS
?Tikuna, ?Panoan, Upper Amazon region
Headdress in the form of a basket-work coronet of plaited palm leaf, with a fringe of
spines from the Brazilian porcupine, Cercolabes prehenselis. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1002
HEADDRESS
?Tikuna, ?Panoan,Amazon region, Brazil
A chief's coronet of tall red and yellow feathers mounted on a circular woven base,
ornamented with seed cases, glass beads and two metal bells of European origin. The
red feathers are probably scarlet macaw, Ara macao, the yellow ones probably
Oropendola, a species of Psarocolius. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1003/1
HEADDRESS
?Tukano, Amazon region, Brazil
Head dress of small yellow, black and red feathers on a basketry coronet, similar in
construction to those made by the Tukano of the Upper Papurí River and its tributaries
in north western Brazil. The toucan feathers used resemble those of the now extinct
‘mutum-de-alagoas', Mitu mitu. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1004
NECKLACE
?Macuxi, ?Wai Wai, Amazon region
Necklace made from splinters of bone and from seed pods cut in half, threaded on
braided plant fibre. Said to have been collected from the Macuxi people. The Wai Wai
people also make this type of necklace, now substituting cotton for bone. Collected
before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1005
NECKLACE
Cocama, San Regis, Amazon region, Peru
Many-stranded necklace of flower seeds, probably painted with a mineral pigment.
Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1006
NECKLACE
Cocama, Amazon region, Peru
Necklace of dried flower seeds threaded on vegetable-fibre string, probably painted
with dyes or mineral pigment. The Karibe speaking peoples also use seeds for making
necklaces. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1007
BELT
?Piro, Ucayali River region
This belt and two associated bracelets, E1008/2 and 3, are made from woven cotton
bands strung with monkey teeth. Documented as having been collected "8 days above
Sarayacu, Ucayali River, Amazon". Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1008/1
BRACELET
?Piro, Ucayali River region
The necklace (E1008/1) and both bracelets (E1008/2 and 3) are made of woven cotton
bands strung with monkey teeth. Documented as having been collected "8 days above
Sarayacu, Ucayali River, Amazon". Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1008/2
BRACELET
?Piro, Ucayali River region
The necklace (E1008/1) and both bracelets (E1008/2 and 3) are made of woven cotton
bands strung with monkey teeth. Documented as having been collected "8 days above
Sarayacu, Ucayali River, Amazon". Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1008/3
STRAP
?Turibo, Amazon region; ?Xingu; ?Central Brazil
A woven strap formed into a loop. The base cloth is natural in colour and woven with
geometric patterns woven in, or stained with, a darker brown shade. Use unknown.
F.F. Searle collection
E1010
BARKCLOTH BELT
?Sarayacu, ?Ticuna, Ecuador, or Peru-Columbia border
Two pieces of barkcloth, sewn along the top edge, extending to a twisted tie at each
end and joined in the centre by knotted fibre. The front surfaces are decorated with a
painted geometric linear and dot design in black, with areas of ochre colouring.
Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1011
TEXTILE
Shipibo-Conibo, Peru
A brown cloth woven from vegetable fibre, almost square in shape, with a small loop
at each corner. Although this cloth is plain, the Shipibo-Conibo people are wellknown for their geometrically patterned textiles. The use of this cloth is unknown, but
it could be a woman's waist-cloth like E 1013.
F.F. Searle collection
E1012
WAIST-CLOTH
Conibo, Pachitea River, Amazon region, Peru
Woman's cotton rectangular waist-cloth, woven from rough dark brown yarn with a
small loop at each corner, perhaps for tying the cloth in place. Although this cloth is
plain, the Shipibo-Conibo people are well-known for their elaborate geometrically
patterned textiles. Collected before 1866.
F.F. Searle collection
E1013
BOW
Guyana
Hardwood bows such as this would be used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1015
ARROW POINT
Guyana
Long arrow with cane shaft, wooden head with two carved barbs, and damaged
feather flight. The arrowhead and split feather are bound to the shaft with fine
vegetable-fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
small animals such as deer and monkeys.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1016/1
ARROW
Guyana
Long arrow with cane shaft, wooden head with two carved barbs, and damaged
feather flight. The arrowhead and split feather are bound to the shaft with fine
vegetable-fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
animals. Collected before 1900.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1016/2
ARROW
Guyana
Long arrow with cane shaft, wooden head with two carved barbs, and damaged
feather flight. The arrowhead and split feather are bound to the shaft with fine
vegetable-fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
small animals such as deer and monkeys. Collected before 1900.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1016/3
BAG
Mayoruna, Panoan, Javari River, Peru-Brazil frontier
Hunting bag made from ‘hammock grass' (bromelia) fibre yarn, with a carrying strap
attached. Such bags are knitted in one piece, using sticks. This example was acquired
on January 12th 1877. The collector, sent by the Veitch company of nurserymen, was
probably Walter Davis, a plant collector in the area.
James Veitch & Sons collection
E1021
CLUB (MACANA)
Arawak, Demerara, Guyana
This type of club, carved from very dense hardwoods, may have been used by men in
hand-to-hand combat. Rectangular in cross-section, sometimes concave, it is wide at
the hitting end and narrow in the centre. Sharp stone blade inserted through head.
Handgrip bound with cotton thread. Collected in thenineteenth century.
Mrs. H. Porter collection
E1023
BOW
Guyana
Hardwood bows such as this would be used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
T. Hussey Jnr. collection
E1024
FISHING SPEAR
Demerara, Guyana
Fishing weapons are often multi-pronged. This two-pronged fishing spear is flightless
and has a smooth cane shaft, to which the hardwood head is bound with fine
vegetable-fibre thread. Collected in the nineteenth century. Sometimes fish were
poisoned before they were caught with spears.
Mr. T. Hussey Jnr. collection
E1025
NECKLACE
Amazon region
Elaborate necklace with two main strands. Each of these multiple strands of small
brown seeds, gathered into a bundles through groups of larger, dark wooden beads. At
the centre of each group is a flat, square bead carved with a criss-cross pattern,
surrounded by four round beads carved with lines.
Mrs. Robert Bird collection
E1027
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
Arrow with long spirally-barbed hardwood point. The join with the smooth cane shaft
is covered with plant fibre and black resin. Parallel flights are bound to the shaft at
regular intervals. Thread and resin cover the shaped nock. This type of arrow was
used for hunting birds. Collected before 1874.
Winslow Jones collection
E1029
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with smooth cane shaft and damaged feather flight. The feathers are bound to
the shaft with elaborate patterns of fine plant fibre thread, and the shaped nock is
coated in black resin. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
animals.
Winslow Jones collection
E1030
ARROW
Guyana
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Winslow Jones collection
E1031/1
ARROW
Guyana
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Winslow Jones collection
E1031/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with leaf-shaped cane head, wooden foreshaft painted with stripes, cane shaft
and damaged feather flight. The feathers are bound to the shaft with elaborate patterns
of fine plant fibre thread, and the nock is coated with resin. Such arrows would be
used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Winslow Jones collection
E1031/3
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
An arrow with a narrow leaf-shaped bamboo point and a short foreshaft. The threadwork binding the point to the foreshaft is finished in a decorative raised pattern.
Arrows and spears with leaf-shaped bamboo points are used for hunting larger
animals such as jaguar and tapir. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1032
ARROW
Guyana
Long arrow with feather flights bound to cane shaft with elaborate patterns of fine
plant fibre thread. Metal arrowhead with three back points, bound to wooden foreshaft
with cord and resin. Wooden foreshaft marked with wave patterns. Such arrows
would be used with a hardwood bow, possibly for fishing.
J. Teschemaker Jones collection
E1033
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
An arrow with a barbed metal point, painted foreshaft and a shaped black flight and
nock. Iron, obtained through trade, replaced more traditional materials such as bone
and shell. Possibly used for fishing. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1034
ARROW
Guyana
Long arrow with feather flights bound to cane shaft with elaborate patterns of fine
plant fibre thread. Metal arrowhead with a back point, bound to wooden foreshaft
with cord and resin. Wooden foreshaft marked with wave patterns. Such arrows
would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1035
ARROW
?Urubu, Guyana
Long arrow with feather flights bound to cane shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre
thread. Metal arrowhead with a back point, bound to wooden foreshaft with cord and
resin. Possibly used for fishing.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1036
FISHING HARPOON
Demerara, Guyana
Harpoons are used for fishing. This one has a detachable barbed iron point bound with
plant fibre cord and resin, which is secured to the wooden foreshaft with a plant fibre
cord. The parallel, shaped feather flight is bound to the cane shaft with fine plant fibre
thread. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1037
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
The point on this slim arrow is the cartilage spine of a ray fish tail. Stingrays live
mainly on sandbanks in rivers. Such arrows are used both for fishing and hunting
animals. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1038/1
ARROW
Guyana
The point on this arrow is the cartilage spine of a ray fish tail. The point is bound to
the wave-patterned wooden foreshaft, and the feather flights to the cane shaft, with
fine fibre thread. Such arrows are used both for fishing and for hunting animals.
Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1038/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting small animals such as deer and monkeys.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1039/1
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting small animals such as deer and monkeys.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1039/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is
bound to the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used
with a hardwood bow, for hunting small animals such as deer and monkeys.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1039/3
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, half feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound
to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread, which is coming undone. Nock finished with
thread wrapped in a criss-cross pattern. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood
bow, for hunting small animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1039/4
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. The point is bound to the shaft with
resin-covered thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
small animals such as monkeys.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1040/1
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. The point is bound to the shaft with
resin-covered thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
small animals such as monkeys.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1040/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. The thread binding the point to the
shaft is coming undone. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting small animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1040/3
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight and plain wooden point. The flight is bound to
the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. The point is bound to the shaft with
thread coated in a white substance. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow,
for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1041
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
Bird-hunting arrows often have knobbed heads or short cross-pieces near the tip to
increase their striking surface and reduce penetration. The blunt point stuns the bird
without damaging the feathers. This arrow has a smallblunt ball-point made from a
seed case. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1042
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flight, and wooden foreshaft with wave patterns. The
arrowhead is missing, though thread bindings remain around the shaft. The feathers
are bound to the shaft with patterns of fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be
used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1043/1
ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
A curabi arrow with a narrow bamboo curare-poisoned tip, which is wrapped in
leaves to protect the handler. The arrow has a wooden foreshaft bound to the cane
shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The parallel flight is shaped from two half-feathers.
Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1043/2
ARROW
A curabi arrow with a narrow bamboo curare-poisoned tip, which is wrapped in
leaves to protect the handler. The arrow has a wooden foreshaft bound to the cane
shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The parallel flight is shaped from two half-feathers.
Collected before 1869.
Guyana
J. Teschemaker collection
E1043/3
FISHING ARROW
Demerara, Guyana
Arrow with three prongs carrying three barbed points. The arrow has a smooth cane
shaft and a shaped feather flight. Used for catching fish in rivers. Collected before
1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E1044
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft and wooden foreshaft. Both ends, including the arrowhead and
flights, are broken off and missing. The criss-cross binding on this arrow may be
made from a plant fibre other than cotton.
W. Tombs collection
E1045
FISHING SPEAR
Guyana
Fishing weapons are often multi-pronged. This two-pronged fishing spear is flightless
and has a smooth cane shaft, to which the hardwood head is bound with fine
vegetable-fibre thread. Sometimes fish were poisoned before they were caught with
spears.
Devon & Exeter Institution collection
E1046
ARROW
Venezuela
Long arrow with cane shaft and wooden head with three carved barbs. The head is
bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. Bindings near the nock suggest that
feather flights may be missing. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting animals. Collected before 1900.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E1047/1
ARROW
Venezuela
Long arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights, and wooden head with eleven
carved barbs. The head and flights are bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread.
The shaped nock is also bound. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting animals. Collected before 1900.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E1047/2
ARROW
Venezuela
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flights wooden foreshaft, tiny bone tip and one,
possibly metal, barb. The head, flights and shaped nock are bound to the shaft with
fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, probably for
fishing and hunting. Collected before 1900.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E1048
FISHING HARPOON
Venezuela
Harpoons are used for fishing. This one has a detachable barbed iron point bound with
plant fibre cord and resin, which is secured to the wooden foreshaft with a plant fibre
cord. It may have had a feather flight, now missing. Shaped nock bound with fine
thread. Collected before 1869.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E1049
MANIOC STRAINER (TIPITI or MATARI)
Guyana
Strainers, plaited by men from reed stems, are used by women to remove poisonous
prussic acid from grated manioc pulp, a staple diet in the Amazon. One loop is fixed
to a high beam and the other is pulled to squeeze the liquid through the basket weave.
Collected before 1878.
H.H.P. Holland collection
E1051
BLOWPIPE
Macuxi, Guyana
A plain wooden blowpipe, perhaps paxiúba palm wood, with a hollow centre. This
would be used for shooting poisoned darts, used for hunting small animals such as
peccary, tapir and monkey. This blowpipe may have had a mouthpiece and sights,
similar to those seen on E 971, but now missing.
H.H.P. Holland collection
E1052
QUIVER
Demerara, Guyana
Woven quiver, water-proofed with resin or a resin and wax mixture on the outside. It
has a detached lid of moulded animal hide, hair-side in. Fine plant-fibre braids are
threaded through a piranha-jaw scraper, used for making the darts. Thicker cord straps
are tied around the middle. Collected before 1878.
H.H.P. Holland collection
E1053/1
BUNDLE OF BLOWPIPE DARTS
Demerara, Guyana
This bundle of cane darts is bound around a rod with cotton thread. The tips are
coated with poison, probably curare, extracted from tree bark. Such darts would have
been used with a blowpipe, for hunting small animals such as peccary, tapir and
monkey. Collected before 1878.
H.H.P. Holland collection
E1053/2
BASKET CONTAINING PAINA FIBRE
Amazon region
This basket, part of a carcaz or quiver set, contains paina fibre. This is never spun but
is used to wrap around the base of blowpipe darts to ensure they fit snugly inside the
blowpipe tube. Collected before 1878.
H.P. Holland collection
E1053/3
FIRE FAN
Amazon region, Guyana
Fire-fan woven from the ita palm. These palm leaf fans, usually woven by men, are
used as spatulas for turning cassava 'bread' as well as for fanning the fire. Collected
before 1879.
Mrs. C. O'Donoghue collection
E1054
QUIVER AND DARTS
Cariso, Northern Bolivia
Bamboo quiver with curare-tipped blowpipe darts held in place between the folds of a
palm leaf. The woven cotton bag attached to the quiver contains fibre for wrapping
around the butt of each dart. This ensures a close fit in the blowpipe for maximum
propulsion. Collected before 1880.
James Veitch & Sons collection
E1055
BOW
Amazon region
Dark hardwood bow with a flat, rectangular cross-section. There are no bindings, and
the bowstring is missing. Such a bow would have been used with long arrows, for
hunting animals. Collected before 1880.
James Veitch & Sons collection
E1090
ARROW
Guyana
Such long arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
W.C. Grant collection
E1091
WAR CLUB
?Macuxi, ?Wapishana, Guyana
Hardwood war club with plant fibre bindings and incised geometric designs filled
with white pigment. A similar club was given to the British Museum in 1836, ‘used
by the Chieftain as a badge of office on solemn occasions' when the pointed butt was
planted into the ground. Collected before 1860.
W C Grant collection
E1102
APRON
?Shuar, ?North West Amazon region, ?Venezuela
Long, narrow apron made from rows of birds' wing bones and dried seeds, fringed
with monkeys' teeth and iridescent beetles' wing cases. The beetle wings make a
sound when danced. Part of a man's ceremonial regalia, hung from the back of the
head by the cotton strap. Collected before 1920.
James Veitch & Sons collection
E1921
BOW
Arawak, Venezuela
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring is missing, but
fragments of coarse plant fibre string bindings remain. Such a bow would have been
used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E962
BOW
Arawak, Venezuela
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring is missing, but
fragments of coarse plant fibre string bindings remain. Such a bow would have been
used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E963
BOW
Arawak, Venezuela
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring is tied to the ends
of the bow and bound with coarse plant fibre string. Such a bow would have been
used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E964
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Long arrow with smooth cane shaft, wooden head with six carved barbs, and no
flight. The head is bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The shaped nock
end is also bound with thread, becoming loose. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/1
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Long arrow with smooth cane shaft, wooden head with seven carved barbs, and no
flight. The head is bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The shaped nock
end is also bound with thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/2
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Long arrow with smooth cane shaft, wooden head with seven carved barbs, and no
flight. The head is bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The shaped nock
end is also bound with thread, becoming loose. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/3
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Long arrow with smooth cane shaft, wooden head with six carved barbs, and no
flight. The head is bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The thread bindings
are missing from the shaped nock end. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood
bow, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/4
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Long arrow with smooth cane shaft, wooden head with five carved barbs, and no
flight. The head is bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread. The shaped nock
end is also bound with thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/5
ARROW
Arawak, Venezuela
Such long arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E965/6
WAR CLUB (MACANA)
Arawak, Orinoco River, Venezuela
This type of club, carved from very dense hardwoods, may have been for ritual use in
hand-to-hand combat between men. Rectangular in cross-section, it is wide at the
hitting end and narrow in the centre. The handgrip is bound with cotton thread.
Incised geometric patterns with white pigment infill.
Rev. W. Goss collection
E966
BOW
Demerara, Guyana
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. There are no bindings and the
bowstring is missing. Such a bow would have been used with long arrows, for hunting
animals.
W. Tombs collection
E967
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with a long, plain wooden head, smooth cane shaft and feather flights flights.
The head and flights are bound to the shaft with fine plant fibre thread, which is
becoming undone. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting
animals.
W. Tombs collection
E968/1
HEADDRESS
?Demerara, Guyana
?Macuxi, Karibe, Roraima State, Brazil
Feather coronet. Four long, red feathers are inserted into a woven palm-leaf frame,
with cotton yarn streamers. The red feathers are the tail, wing and body feathers of a
species of scarlet macaw, Ara macao. The black feathers are probably from a species
of toucan, Ramphastos. Collected before 1868.
H.C. Whitlock collection
E969
HEADDRESS
Macuxi, Demerara, Guyana
Coronet of multicoloured feathers on a circular frame, perhaps palm-leaf. The three
long red feathers are from the scarlet macaw, Ara macao and the green, blue and red
feathers are possibly the tail and secondary wing feathers of the mealy parrot,
Amazonia farina or other Amazonia species. Collected before 1868.
H.C. Whitlock collection
E970
BLOWPIPE
?Macuxi; Demerara, Guyana
A hollow length of paxiúba palm wood. A carved wooden mouthpiece, bound with
thread coated in resin or wax, is reinforced internally with a narrower length, possibly
of Arundinaria cane. White teeth sights, perhaps peccary, are embedded in the resin.
Used with darts, for hunting small animals. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E971
QUIVER
Guyana
This would have been used to store and carry poisoned darts, used with a blowpipe for
hunting small animals such as peccary, tapir and monkey. The darts are cut at the tip
with a piranha fish jaw so that they will break on impact inside the body of the
animal.
J. Teschemaker collection
E972
BOW
Guyana
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring is tied to the ends
of the bow and bound with coarse plant fibre string. Such a bow would have been
used with long arrows, for fishing or hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E973
BOW
Demerara, Guyana
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring is tied to the ends
of the bow and bound with coarse plant fibre string. Such a bow would have been
used with long arrows. An inscription on the bow reads 'bow used for killing fish'.
J. Teschemaker collection
E974
BOW
Guyana
Dark hardwood bow with a D-shaped cross-section. The bowstring loose at one end,
but tied at the other and bound with coarse plant fibre string. Such a bow would have
been used with long arrows, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E975
ARROW
Karabasi, Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights and a wooden head. The head is
marked with a wave pattern. The flights are bound to the shaft with fine fibre thread.
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E976/1
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights and a wooden head. The head is
marked with a wave pattern and has eight carved barbs. The flights are bound to the
shaft with fine fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for
hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E976/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flights and a wooden head. The head is marked with a
wave pattern and has eight carved barbs. The flights are bound to the shaft with fine
fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E976/3
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flights and a wooden head. The head is marked with a
wave pattern and has six carved barbs. The flights are bound to the shaft with fine
fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E976/4
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights and a wooden head. The head is
marked with a wave pattern. The flights are bound to the shaft with fine fibre thread.
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E977/1
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights and a wooden head. The head is
marked with a wave pattern. The flights are bound to the shaft with fine fibre thread.
Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E977/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, a plain wooden head and no flights. The head is marked with a
wave pattern. The head is bound to the shaft with fine fibre thread. Such arrows
would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E977/3
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, damaged feather flights and a plain wooden head. The head is
marked with a wave pattern. The flights and head are bound to the shaft with fine
fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E977/4
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, feather flights and a wooden head. The head is marked with a
wave pattern. The flights and head are bound to the shaft with fine fibre thread. Such
arrows would be used with a hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E977/5
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, no flights and a wooden head with four carved barbs. The
nock end is bound with fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E978/1
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, no flights and a wooden head with six carved barbs. The nock
end is bound with fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a hardwood
bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E978/2
ARROW
Guyana
Arrow with cane shaft, no flights and a wooden head with twelve carved barbs. The
nock end is bound with fine plant fibre thread. Such arrows would be used with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E978/3
HAMMOCK
Guyana
Hammocks are usually woven from plant fibre string, with a suspension loop at each
end. Hammocks are hung from posts inside houses. They are at the centre of the cycle
of life - conception, birth and illness take place in them, and the dead are buried in
their hammocks.
J. Teschemaker collection
E981
ARROW POINT
Guyana
Arrow point. This would have been attached to a long shaft and used, with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E982/1
ARROW POINT
Guyana
Arrow point. This would have been attached to a long shaft and used, with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E982/2
ARROW POINT
Guyana
Arrow point. This would have been attached to a long shaft and used, with a
hardwood bow, for hunting animals.
J. Teschemaker collection
E982/3
FAN
Guyana
Fire-fan, probably woven from the ita palm. These palm leaf fans, usually woven by
men, are used as spatulas for turning cassava as well as for fanning the fire.
J. Teschemaker collection
E983/1
FAN
Guyana
Fire-fan, probably woven from the ita palm. These palm leaf fans, usually woven by
men, are used as spatulas for turning cassava as well as for fanning the fire.
J. Teschemaker collection
E983/2
FAN
Guyana
Fire-fan, probably woven from the ita palm. These palm leaf fans, usually woven by
men, are used as spatulas for turning cassava as well as for fanning the fire.
J. Teschemaker collection
E983/3
POUCH
Arawak, Guyana
Basketry bag with a fitted lid, the latter patterned with geometric designs. Made from
woven cane with a plant fibre fastening cord and tassels. Made and used by men to
carry string and wax for mending arrows, or to contain ritual objects such as paint and
feathers. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E984/1
CONTAINER
Guyana
Basketry bag with a fitted lid, the latter patterned with geometric designs. Made from
woven cane with a plant fibre fastening cord and tassels. Made and used by men to
carry string and wax for mending arrows, or to contain ritual objects such as paint and
feathers. Collected before 1869.
J. Teschemaker collection
E984/2
CONTAINER
Guyana
Containe