Ticuna spirit doll with a blue-grey monkey face and pink raffia skirt, holding a staff
Ticuna spirit doll with a carved human face holding a staff, beside a reclining animal figure
Three Ticuna spirit dolls including a deer and a monkey figure, holding staffs
Embera artisan in a feathered headdress holding a woven jaguar mask in the rainforest
Side view of a Ticuna monkey spirit doll with a long curled tail and pink raffia skirt
Close-up of an artisan's hands stitching the edge of a bark-cloth panel
Ticuna spirit doll with a blue-grey monkey face and pink raffia skirt, holding a staff
Ticuna spirit doll with a carved human face holding a staff, beside a reclining animal figure
Three Ticuna spirit dolls including a deer and a monkey figure, holding staffs
Embera artisan in a feathered headdress holding a woven jaguar mask in the rainforest
Side view of a Ticuna monkey spirit doll with a long curled tail and pink raffia skirt
Close-up of an artisan's hands stitching the edge of a bark-cloth panel

Forager Monkey - Ticuna Ceremonial Spirit Doll

DOLL-037

Handcrafted by Ticuna Artisans |★★★★★

The Monkey Wears Pants

In Ticuna carving, clothing tells you what you’re looking at. One of one.

The Story

In Ticuna carving, clothing tells you what you’re looking at. Clan ancestors, the lineage figures, wear skirts as a mark of age and wisdom. Mythological spirits don’t. This monkey wears pants: not an ancestor but a spirit of play, mischief, and movement, from the tri-border stretch of the Amazon where Colombia, Peru, and Brazil meet.

The body is carved from balsa, wrapped in yanchama, a bark cloth stripped from rainforest trees and beaten soft over days, then painted with the four traditional Ticuna pigments: genipapo black, achiote red, white clay, and earth yellow. No two figures come out the same; posture, expression, and painted detail all shift from hand to hand.

One family carves, weaves and paints these figures together, as a single group of artisans. The artistic flair is entirely their own, and it originated inside the tribe.

RFB buys directly from the artisans themselves and through their cooperative and tribal representatives, so each piece comes with its story intact.

Learn about Ticuna ceremonial figures →

Details

Dimensions: Approximately 12″ (30 cm) tall
Materials: Balsa wood, yanchama bark cloth, natural pigments
Pigments: Genipapo fruit (black), achiote seeds (red), clay (white), earth pigments (yellow)
Origin: Handcrafted in the Colombian Amazon
Type: Mythological monkey spirit figure
Edition: One of one · SKU DOLL-037

Care & Shipping

Care: Dust with a soft dry cloth; keep away from direct sunlight and moisture
Shipping: Free within the continental US · ships in 1–3 business days
Returns: 14-day returns in original condition

$265.00
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Shipping calculated at checkout.

Handwoven in colombia by

Ticuna Tribe Craftsmen

No. of Artisans

dozens of artists across multiple communities

Origin

upper Amazon River basin


Fairly Made. Community Driven.

Each Ticuna Tribal doll is purchased directly from the artist at fair prices that support families, preserve tradition, and sustain local economies.

Free Returns 14 Days
Artisan Made Direct from Community
Trusted Since 2000 25+ Years

Handcrafted in the Colombian Amazon, these remarkable Ticuna dolls are created by skilled Indigenous artisans using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Each artisan doll reflects the cultural heritage and craftsmanship of Ticuna communities.

At RFB Woven Art, we purchase directly from the most skilled craftsmen, selecting pieces that show the finest workmanship and detail. These authentic handcrafted Ticuna dolls are collected as distinctive works of Amazonian Indigenous art.

Materials Sourced from Nature

Yanchama Fiber

Amazon bark cloth textile

Natural Pigments

Earth pigments from the Amazon

Balsa Wood

Lightweight wood, hand carved

FAQs

The Story of Ticuna Ceremonial Dolls

Pucuna dolls are more than decorative art; they hold deep ceremonial and social significance for the Tikuna people. These dolls play key roles in rituals, such as coming-of-age ceremonies, symbolizing life's transitions and milestones. They are also used in sacred practices to honor ancestral spirits and deities, serving as bridges between the physical and spiritual realms.

Each pucuna doll is intricately designed, adorned with symbolic motifs believed to invoke blessings and protection. Central to the Tikuna’s spiritual and cultural traditions, these dolls reflect their profound connection to their ancestors and the natural world.

Making the Muñecos de la Pelazón

The Tikuna dolls, or Muñecos de la Pelazón, are handcrafted by the Tikuna people of the Colombian Amazon, each one carrying the story of an ancient rite of passage. Central to the Pelazón ceremony, a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and feasting - these dolls honor the moment when young women are introduced into adulthood.

Carved from lightweight balsa wood, every doll is dressed in yanchama, a natural bark fiber painted with bold geometric symbols. Natural pigments in black, white, red, and yellow give each figure its character, while families and artists collaborate on the designs, deciding its size, style, and meaning. Once crafted exclusively by men, today women also take part in their creation, ensuring the tradition continues across generations.

No two dolls are alike. Each represents ancestral and anthropomorphic figures that embody the cultural spirit of the Tikuna people - works of art that preserve both memory and transformation.

Ticuna ceremonial dolls, often called pucuna dolls, are traditional figures created by the Ticuna people of the Colombian Amazon. These handcrafted dolls are connected to the Pelazón ceremony, an important coming-of-age ritual that marks the transition of a young woman into adulthood.

Today, Ticuna dolls are also collected as examples of Indigenous Amazon ceremonial art, valued for their cultural meaning and handmade craftsmanship.

The Pelazón ceremony is one of the most important rites of passage in Ticuna culture. It celebrates the moment when a young woman enters adulthood and is honored with music, dancing, storytelling, and ceremonial objects. Pucuna dolls are part of this tradition and represent spiritual figures and ancestral connections tied to the ritual.

Authentic Ticuna dolls are carved from lightweight balsa wood, a material commonly found in the Amazon rainforest. Each figure is dressed in yanchama bark cloth, a natural fiber made from tree bark, and decorated with geometric patterns painted using natural pigments in black, red, white, and yellow. These materials connect the dolls directly to the environment and traditions of the Colombian Amazon.

Authentic Ticuna dolls are carved and assembled entirely by hand by artisans of the Colombian Amazon.

Each piece shows subtle variations in carving, painting, and fiber work because they are not produced using molds or machines. Genuine dolls typically feature hand-painted patterns, natural materials like yanchama bark cloth, and individual artistic details that make every piece unique.

The tradition of Ticuna ceremonial dolls is rooted in generations of cultural practice within the Amazon rainforest. These dolls are closely connected to the Pelazón ceremony, which has long been an important part of Ticuna social and spiritual life.

Today, handmade Ticuna dolls continue to preserve these traditions while also being appreciated by collectors as rare examples of Indigenous Amazon ceremonial art.

Each piece is handwoven over many months using natural fibers and plant-based dyes, reflecting the traditions of skilled artisans. To preserve the color and structure of your handwoven basket or woven art, display it away from direct sunlight or skylights, as prolonged UV exposure can fade natural dyes and weaken fibers over time.

In very dry climates, you may occasionally mist the inside lightly with distilled or non-chlorinated water, similar to caring for wicker or rattan. Gently blot away any excess with a paper towel to help maintain the fiber’s natural balance and long-term durability.

With proper care, artisan woven baskets made from natural materials can retain their beauty and strength for many years.

Free shipping within the continental US. Contact us for shipping outside the US at jen@woven.art, and we will offer options.

Free pre-paid returns with 14 days. Love it or return it with no obligation.

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