Producer unknown to us
Female doll (Ritxoko)
Americas, Brazil, Araguaya River, Bananal Island
1900–1956
Clay, baked
From the 1950s to the 1970s, Erich Wustmann (ethnologist, author) undertook numerous expeditions and journeys to collect items for museums. He sold the acquired objects to the museums in Leipzig and Dresden.
Purchased by the museum from Wustmann in 1957
SAm 21512
This Ritxoko doll portrays a seated woman. Below its eyes, it bears the Iny-Karajá mark of identity, the tattooed circles called “komarura.” In addition, the doll is wearing a raffia apron called “tanga.” Baked clay is a feature of modern Ritxoko; traditionally, the figurines were simply dried in the sun for a long time. This is why the old Ritxokos did not have fully sculpted arms, as they would have broken off too easily. The more recent baked figurines, which were crafted from the middle of the 20th century, can display more intricate details.
The Iny Karajá community lives in 20 villages along the Araguaya River in central Brazil. Its population is about 3,000. Their language, Inyribe, belongs to the Macro-Gê family of languages. After heavy losses in colonial conflicts in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Iny established lively trade relations with Brazil, which promoted a steady acculturation. The female ceramists (ceramistas) were highly respected in the communities for their wealth of knowledge. This included knowledge about the “Ritxoko,” dolls that convey knowledge about what it means to be an Iny-Karajá, with references to their gender roles, social traditions, and worldview.
Ethnologist and author Erich Wustmann (1907–1994) acquired the doll during his research trips in the 1950s.
Frank Usbeck