£220
Taxidermy /Curiosity: Shrunken Human Head Tsantsa
Museum quality replica of a Shrunken Head head-hunting trophy, known as a Tsantsa by the Shuar people of the Amazonian rainforest, on display stand.
With long black hair; long beaded earrings with red and yellow feathers and sewn lips.
Head hunting occurred between various tribes in Ecuador and Peru. The Jivaroan peoples would go to war, and the victors would collect the heads of the fallen enemy. These in turn would be skinned to remove the skull; sewn up at the back of the head and through a process of boiling; and then adding hot stones and sand into the neck hole would shrink the skin. These shrunken heads would be worn either around the neck or on a belt, or displayed to show the warrior / tribes power. Lips were sewn so the soul couldn’t speak in the afterlife.
Genuine examples of this type are exceedingly rare and can be in excess of £25,000.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
24% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
24% inc VAT*
