- Nenets shaman's drum. Made by M. Huninda. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. The end of the 19th century - the 20th century. beginning. Wood, reindeer hide and sinew, metal. Diameter 50 cm. PSMHM collection: MVMp 7773/22 LZ 4110In order to communicate with the Creator Num and summon or ward off spirits, Nenets shamans beat drums with their hands or drumsticks, performed chants and ritualized movements. Drums were only allowed to be used after seven years of shamanistic training. After another three years, the apprentice was allowed to hang the bells on them, which is the most powerful sacred part of the instrument. The maker of the drums was the shaman M. Huninda, who died in 1973, and after his death the drums were pierced because the shaman had no apprentice.
- Nenets sacred object Nitarma. Made by M. Huninda. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. 20th century 30-40 years. Voilok, wood, copper, fabric. 10.7 x 14.5 cm. PSMHM collection: MVMp 7773/72 LZ 4160In the Nenets people's understanding, death is not the end, but the beginning of life in a different form. In the case of the death of important and respected people, such as a shaman or a community elder, the Nenets created images of the dead - Nitarmas. The sacred object ensured that the soul of the deceased continued to reside among the living. According to Nenets traditions, relatives of the deceased dressed Nitarmas in clothes according to the gender of the deceased, laid them to sleep and fed them like a living person. Nitarma was kept by Nenets families for several generations.
- Hantu sacred object Itarma. The manufacturer is unknown. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The year of manufacture is unknown. Wood, cotton. Height 21 cm. PSMHM collection: MVM 7129/16 LA 8252/16The Khanty people of Siberia worshiped ancestral spirits. After a person's death, a piece of wood was cut from the corner of his house or a coffin board and a 15-20 cm human figure was made. Its face was engraved with a coin, while the lines were colored with the blood of the donation. The red strip of cloth and the coin tied in it is a bloodless offering to the spirits. For Hants, such figures are the embodiment of the ancestors, through them the ancestors see, feel, communicate, act and ensure the connection of the Hants with natural processes, support the patient in treatment.
- Clothing of the Hantu sacred object Itarma. The manufacturer is unknown. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The year of manufacture is unknown. 21 cm. Reindeer skin, wool felt, metal. PSMVM collection: MVM 7129/3 LA 8252/3The clothes of Itarmas were made as an offering to the figurines of ancestral spirits to ask for their favor, luck in hunting or healing. This miniature garment consists of two layers and is similar to the Hantu traditional folk dress. The bottom layer of clothing corresponds to traditional men's clothing - an inward-facing woolen deerskin coat with a hood - malica. The upper layer, on the other hand, is a larger coat - gus, directed with the wool to the outside. Nenets men still carry malica on a daily basis, but gus is used only when going to the tundra in extreme cold.
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Collection of a Siberian Shaman’s Items
Shamanism is one of the oldest kinds of religion and healing in the world. It was widespread among the North Siberian Nenets people well into the 20th century. The items in this collection belonged to a Nenets shaman, M. Hunind. They were added to the Museum’s collection after an expedition to Siberia in 1982.
These are items used in religious rituals to call upon spirits: wood idols, amulets, special shamanic clothing, ancient cult objects, as well as household items reflecting the harsh everyday realities of Nenets life — enduring polar nights and scarce resources.
Nenets shaman's drum. Made by M. Huninda. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. The end of the 19th century - the 20th century. beginning. Wood, reindeer hide and sinew, metal. Diameter 50 cm. PSMHM collection: MVMp 7773/22 LZ 4110
Nenets sacred object Nitarma. Made by M. Huninda. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. 20th century 30-40 years. Voilok, wood, copper, fabric. 10.7 x 14.5 cm. PSMHM collection: MVMp 7773/72 LZ 4160
Hantu sacred object Itarma. The manufacturer is unknown. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The year of manufacture is unknown. Wood, cotton. Height 21 cm. PSMHM collection: MVM 7129/16 LA 8252/16