Alpheus Hyatt Verrill Sold at Auction Prices

Published 1920s H. Verrill Kukwa Cocle Indians Panama

Alpheus Hyatt Verrill (American, 1871-1954). "Kukwa Dance, Cocle Indians of Panama" oil on canvas, 1924. Signed "Verrill - Panama '24" on lower left. AND two books, both ethnographic accounts written by Verrill and published in 1927. A wonderful ensemble of works by Alpheus Hyatt Verrill, an American explorer, artist, author, inventor, and zoologist (Yale University's first zoologist) - this lot includes an oil painting of the Panamanian Cucua/Kukwa dance, a copy of Verrill's book entitled "Panama of Today" (1927) which includes a photograph entitled "Cocle Indian Kukwa Dancers" that presents 6 dancers in traditional costumes, and a copy of Verrill's "The American Indian - North, South and Central America" which includes a photograph of this actual painting. In the painting, Verrill presents 4 dancers - all wearing outfits made from fibers of the cucua plant and decorated with plant dyes - dancing in the village of San Miguel Centro in northern Cocle, Panama. Size of painting: 11.75" L x 15.875" W (29.8 cm x 40.3 cm) The dancers impersonate cucua devils in this traditional dance which would have disappeared from Panamanian folklore a few decades ago were it not for the efforts of a group of residents in San Miguel Centro who researched, taught, and promoted the dance. According to scholar Nina K. Muller-Schwarze, "Artisans and dancers describe cucua dances and outfits as means to survive Spanish colonialism in a historical narrative that empowers rural people today." The dance has a specific social and historical context. When performed in the village, "There are three main devils (the Diablo Mayor, Capitán, and El Dirigente/Teniente) in a dance ensemble. These three not only dance but also speak during performances. The Diablo Mayor has management responsibilities such as initiating and cultivating contacts with people outside northern Coclé. Modesto Agraje (pers. comm., San Miguel Centro, 2010) explains that the Diablo Mayor keeps the devils in order, trains his followers, and commits to this position for a long time; the Capitán and what he terms the Teniente organize the line of dancers; and he explains that the other devils in the performance ensemble don’t have named positions." ("The Arson of a Museum: Ethnography of historical experience and plant fiver use in northern Cocle Province, Panama" by Nina K. Muller-Schwarze - October 28, 2015) Hyatt Verrill (1928) described the indigenous Cocle kukwa (also cucua) dance in his text as follows, "the Cocle [sic] Indians are the most highly civilized of all Panamanian tribes, despite the fact that for years they fought relentlessly against Spain and managed to hold their own at that. Today, they have forgotten their own tongue and live in a far more civilized manner than their Panamanian neighbors … Once a year they don weird dance costumes of bark cloth with grotesque masks fitted with horns and jaws and the teeth of wild animals, and take part in the 'Kukwa' or devil dance." No doubt Verrill's description suffers from western biases of the period; however, his intent to document and record the dance and other elements of the Cocle culture are valuable resources today. The "Kukwa Dance, Cocle Indians of Panama" painting was exhibited at Whisnant Galleries where it was listed for $2200. This lot is accompanied by the gallery's text panel which states identifies the artist, title, date, etc. and also states, "Together with two books written by the Artist: 'The American Indian, North, South and Central America,' First Edition, 1927. See Page 137, a black and white plate of this actual painting; and 'Panama Today', 1927, Page 110 Black and White Plate showing the actual Indians, in their colorful costumes, as they appear in this painting." Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired prior to 2000 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #169576