A haunting Vintage Shrunken Head. South American, early twentieth century. Displayed at the Metamora Museum Of Oddities as an authentic shrunken head, but is more likely an excellent vintage facsimile. Amazonian Jivaro tribes practiced ritual head shrinking as a way to capture the power of their enemies. The original Shrunken heads are desired artifacts and were collected for the last 150 years by travelers, however, to the Jivaros indians, the tsantsa was used to trap the muisak or avenging soul of slain persons. Although at one time the trade in actual shrunken heads was brisk, facsimile heads made of various leathers and human hair were substituted for the actual heads in commerce with early travelers in the Jungle. This head measures 6 x 6 inches and will also include the wooden stand used in the Museum.

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