Doll | litjoko

Typical for this clay doll are its oversized feet. Hair modelled from wax reaches down to its waist. A long lipstud made of strips of cane suggests that this is a male doll. Light and dark stripes incised into the body act as decoration. These patterns correspond to the traditional body painting of the Karajá, who live in the Amazon lowlands of central Brazil along the Rio Araguaia and on the island of Bananal. The Karajá women make these clay dolls called Iitjoko. The litjoko dolls were originally used as toys, but in the course of time they have also become bartering objects. They have educational functions and are important in integrating the child into the adult world. Author: Heike Gerlach, Translation: Timothy Connell