157

A Tairona Ocarina - in the Shape of an Ocarina Player!

Currency:USD Category:Antiquities / Pre-Columbian Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 3,500.00 USD
A Tairona Ocarina - in the Shape of an Ocarina Player!

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2012 Jul 13 @ 10:00 (UTC-06:00 : CST/MDT)
Location:P.O. Box 714, Erie, Colorado, 80516, United States
Pre-Columbian, Tairona, ca. 500 – 1000 AD. A hollow-molded terracotta statuette depicting a standing male figure; he wears an elaborate headdress with a central disc and an equally elaborate costume with belts, arm bands and sashes, all of which are decorated with geometric patterns. His costume probably indicates that he is a cacique or chieftain. With his left hand he holds a musical instrument to his mouth - an ocarina.



Most interestingly, the whole statuette itself functions as an ocarina! The top of the head has a small blow hole, and several holes on the body of the figure, when covered or uncovered with the finger tips, allow to lower and raise the pitch. A fantastic whistle that still plays after all those years! 7-1/2”H (19cm), in excellent condition; some encrustation and surface wear; a minuscule chip to the back of the headdress. There is a very thin line on one of the arms, only visible under magnification. An old inventory number written under one of the feet.

Provenance: Ex-private Belgian collection VH, bought in 2003; previously with Arte Primitivo, New York; previously Danish private collection.

This lot will be sold not subject to a reserve. The starting price is the price at which the item can sell.