In indigenous culture and myth the physical and spiritual beings of the forest play a central part in their cosmic vision. They are presented in their body pantings and handicrafts. They call them Kenê, and usually are represented by geometric patterns.
This beautiful double barrel Tepi is decorated with designs inspired by these Kenês. They are burned into the bamboo with pyrography. The double barrel Tepi blows both nostrils at the same time, just a single hit and done.
This model was made by our handicrafts experts at the Tete Pawã arts and medicines studio. They are located in the upper Juruá region of Marechal Thaumaturgo municipality, way up on the Amazon. The only way to get there is a two day boat journey or with a four seater airplane.
Tete Pawã is the Harpy in the Pano indigenous language. It is the biggest bird of prey of the region and considered very sacred to the native peoples of the region. A truly majestic and royal bird. In Huni Kuin myth he is an enchanted being created by Yuxibu, the great spirit.
There may be slight variations from batch to batch since this is a hand crafted product.
A beautiful bone tepi decorated with tribal bead work. The beads are in the tribal style of mostly the Yawanawa and Katukina tribes using their sacred Kenês representing their spirit guides. In these tribes, bone kuripes and tepis are considered superior because they provide more pressure in the blow, and are more durable than bamboo, mainly because of the hardness of the material.
This model was made by our handicrafts experts at the Tete Pawã arts and crafts studio. They are located in the upper Juruá region of Marechal Thaumaturgo municipality, way up on the Amazon. The only way to get there is a two day boat journey or with a four seater airplane.
There may be slight varieties from batch to batch since this is a hand crafted product.
Tepi Leather
Regular price$74.99
Save $-74.99
This bamboo and leather tepi was hand crafted by Shirley in Maranhão state, one of our favorite crafters of Snuff tools from Brazil.
Tepi Kenê
Regular price$94.99
Save $-94.99
A wonderful piece fully decorated with indigenous Kenê engraved using pyrography. The Kenê is the symbolical language used to identify the tribe or a spiritual force invoked by painting ti on the body.
This model was made by our handicrafts experts at the Tete Pawã arts and crafts studio. They are located in the upper Juruá region of Marechal Thaumaturgo municipality, way up on the Amazon. The only way to get there is a two day boat journey or with a four seater airplane.
There may be slight varieties from batch to batch since this is a hand crafted product.
