A note from Jen — I squealed the first time I saw these, and pulled off their little masks to find the faces carved underneath. The monkeys made me giggle, and the delicately carved deer antlers wow'd me. One Ticuna family in Colombia raised a coming-of-age ceremonial object into a renowned art form, and I am proud to represent these rare dolls.
Ĥu hajim — thank you, from the Wounaan · ❤️ Jen at RFB Woven Art
Ceremonial figures handcrafted by Ticuna artisans in the Colombian Amazon. Known as pucuna dolls or Muñecos de la Pelazón, each figure has a carved balsa wood base, dressed in yanchama bark cloth — the inner bark of the yanchama tree (Poulsenia armata), a member of the fig family, soaked, pounded, and dried — then painted with natural Amazon pigments in black, red, white, and yellow. Each motif carries meaning within Ticuna cosmology.
These figures are connected to the Pelazón, one of the most important ceremonies in Ticuna culture — a coming-of-age celebration where each figure represents ancestral spirits, totemic animals, and mythological beings. Sourced directly from Ticuna artisans at fair prices.
Common Questions
Are these authentic Ticuna figures?
Yes. Each Muñeco de la Pelazón is built on a carved balsa base, dressed in woven yanchama bark cloth, and hand-painted with natural Amazon pigments in black, red, white, and yellow by Ticuna artisans in the Colombian Amazon — sourced directly at fair prices.
What do the figures represent?
They belong to the Pelazón, the Ticuna coming-of-age ceremony. Each figure represents ancestral spirits, totemic animals, or mythological beings, and each painted motif carries meaning within Ticuna cosmology.
Will this exact figure be restocked?
No. Every figure is one of one. Once it sells, it is gone and never restocked.
How fast is shipping, and how do I care for it?
Orders ship in 1–3 business days with free shipping in the continental US; returns accepted within 14 days in original condition. Dust with a soft dry cloth and keep out of direct sunlight to protect the natural pigments — see our Care & Display guide.