Necklace of glass trade beads (mainly yellow) with pendants originally catalogued as 'pieces of wood'. These are probably pieces of root from the PAGLA 'UKKU tree (Krieger 1926:112 and Pl. 30.3) which is reputed to have medicinal qualities. The necklace may therefore be amuletic. [LM]

Collection type: Object
Description: Necklace of glass trade beads (mainly yellow) with pendants originally catalogued as 'pieces of wood'. These are probably pieces of root from the PAGLA 'UKKU tree (Krieger 1926:112 and Pl. 30.3) which is reputed to have medicinal qualities. The necklace may therefore be amuletic. [LM]
Geographical reference: Panama
Latin America and the Caribbean > Central America > Panama; San Blas Islands
Cultural groups: Guna
Person: Field collector Lilian Mabel Alice Richmond Brown; Field collector Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges; PRM source Lilian Mabel Alice Richmond Brown; PRM source Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1922
Date collected: 1922
Acquisition information: Donated: 1924
Materials and processes: Material Bead, Material String, Material Cotton Yarn Plant, Material Plant Root, Material Glass, Process Perforated, Process Strung
Dimensions: Length: max 350 mm doubled
Object numbers: Accession number: 1924.46.34
Associated publications: This object was featured in the Museum’s ‘web gallery’ (‘Selected Objects from the Lower Gallery’) produced during the DCF-funded ‘What’s Upstairs?’ project, 2004–2006, with the following caption: ‘This necklace from Panama is made of glass trade beads and pendants of root. The root pendants were thought to be medicinal. The necklace may therefore have been an amulet, to protect the wearer.

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