Bidspirit auction | Guna Inaduledi ”Pacha-Tubalet” Clay Herbal

Guna Inaduledi ”Pacha-Tubalet” Clay Herbal Ball for Childbirth - Dried river clay with four pulverized and preserved medicinal herbs blended into it.  From Guna (Kuna/Cuna) culture; specifically the practicing Ina Tuledi (Medicine Man) Prospero Echeves of Mamartupu (Rio Sidra), Guna Yala, Panama.  Collected: Kapp expedition era, mid-20th century. An elongated round dried clay mixture, about 3” in length, in protective plastic sleeve (has not been removed).  Field tag included which reads: PACHA-TUBALET from I.T. PROSPERO ECHEVES at MAMARTUPU (Rio Ciedras). Herbal ball containing 4 ingredients used in childbirth. To assist a childbirth, the medicine man would typically scrape a small portion of this compound into a bath, accompanied by therapeutic chanting.  Guna apothecary formulations of this age are virtually non-existent on the open market; this item is a great find for a collection on the history of medicine or advanced ethnographic archives. Provenance:  From the collection of American ethnologist and explorer Captain Kit S. Kapp.