The Guna (or Kuna or Cuna) people believe that all illness results from spiritual imbalance. So when someone becomes ill, the healer (Inatuledi) summons healing spirits that are stored within carved wooden figures called nuchugana (plural of nuchu). All Guna households have nuchu figures, and Inatuledi normally have a large assortment. Pre-1960 nuchugana are quite rare. This seated example shows strong sculptural qualities. It was collected by Kit Kapp in the 1960s.
Nuchugana – Spiritual Healing Figures
