Soul Boat

ClassificationsSculpture

Date20th Century

Made AtPanama, Central America, North America

MediumBalsa wood, paint and nails

Dimensions26 1/2 × 12 × 31 1/2 in. (67.3 × 30.5 × 80 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest and Auguste Roschen

Object number96.5.1

DescriptionCarved wooden boat with figures from the Kuna (Guna) people of Panama. Seventeen human figures and two animals are depicted. The sculpture is painted red, blue and purple. The smaller figures have objects in their hands. There are two alligators, one on each side of the boat. Both sides of the boat are painted with geometric designs.

Called a soul boat, this sculpture would have been placed in the tomb of a deceased Kuna person along with other goods that would assist in the transition to the afterlife. Collected by donor in 1923.

On View

On view

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