Storyteller Monkey - Ticuna Ceremonial Spirit Doll
DOLL-035
Handcrafted by Ticuna Artisans |★★★★★
From the rainforest canopy of the Colombian Amazon comes one of the most playful figures in Ticuna mythology: the monkey spirit. Indigenous to the tri-border region where Colombia, Peru, and Brazil meet, the Ticuna people distinguish carefully between clan animals and mythological beings. Clan animals represent extended families and ancestral lineage, and are shown wearing skirts as a marker of old age and wisdom. The monkey is not a clan ancestor. This figure wears pants. It is a mythological spirit of mischief, spontaneity, and play — a presence that moves freely through story and canopy, carrying energy rather than lineage into the home.
The body is carved from balsa wood, a lightweight tropical hardwood gathered locally, then wrapped in yanchama — a cloth made by stripping bark from a rainforest tree, soaking it for days, and beating it into a soft, paper-like fiber. The figure is finished with the four traditional Ticuna pigments: black from the genipapo fruit, red from achiote seeds, white from clay, and yellow from earth and plant sources. The geometric patterning is not decorative in the Western sense. It references the artisan's own visual lineage and inherited training, passed from maker to apprentice across generations.
Hand-carved and painted by a single Ticuna artisan, this 12-inch monkey figure carries subtle variations in posture, expression, and line work that make each piece entirely unique. A museum-quality object that brings movement and narrative presence into a curated interior — whether placed on a shelf, console, or within a wider collection of Amazonian ceremonial art.
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-035
Sourced directly from Ticuna artisans in the Colombian Amazon — purchased at fair prices to support the continuation of this tradition and the families who carry it.
- Approx. 12″ H (30 cm)
- One-of-a-kind artisan work
- Hand carved in the Colombian Amazon
- Traditional ceremonial art
Handwoven in colombia by
Ticuna Tribe Craftsmen
No. of Artisansdozens of artists across multiple communities |
Originupper 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.
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.
