A painted bark cloth attributed to the Ticuna people of the Amazon region, likely from the mid 20th century. The cloth is decorated with a striking figural composition, showing a crowned human figure beside a large bird form, framed by a border of angular geometric motifs.
Ticuna bark cloths are made from beaten inner bark and painted with natural pigments. Unlike the more abstract rhythmic surfaces of Mbuti bark cloths from Central Africa, Ticuna examples often include figural imagery connected to myth, ritual, storytelling, and the natural world of the Amazon.
This example has a wonderfully direct, almost narrative quality. The crowned figure and bird form give the piece a strong sense of character, while the surrounding zigzag border creates a bold graphic frame. The warm ochre and brown pigments sit beautifully against the pale bark cloth ground, emphasizing both the drawing and the texture of the material.
Size: 1'6" x 1'9" [46cm x 53cm]
Age: Mid 20th century
Origin: Ticuna (Indigenous people of Brazil. They inhabit the upper Amazon River region)
Type of Textile: Bark Cloth
Material: Painted Bark Cloth
Condition: Very good; small hole and curling edges
TX710
