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Object Monday: Karajá Comb

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Comb (siho), Karajá (Iny)
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92.28.2 Comb (siho), Karajá (Iny), Central Brazil, ca. 1960s

The comb was collected in the 1960s from the Indigenous nation of the Karajá of Central Brazil.The siho of the Karajá (16.5 x 10 cm) is large and tapered in shape and made from thin pieces of alternating blonde and dark-colored palm wood that are woven with a chevron pattern of dyed green, fuchsia, and natural fibers. It has teeth made from palm wood, colorful feather clusters, a woven mid-section, and a handle for carrying.

The Karajá (Iny) territory is roughly 7,800 sq miles and consists of 29 villages located in central Brazil contained by the Araguaia River valley[1]. Their population is estimated to be around 5,500 member. The National Museum of Brazil held many Karajá objects from contemporary populations, including feather art and ceramics[3].

 Maps and information of indigenous territories: https://terrasindigenas.org.br/en

Information about the KARAJÁ: https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Karaj%C3%A1