Description:

Pre-Columbian, Southern Colombia to Northern Ecuador, Carchi-Narino Highlands, Narino culture, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. A pottery ocarina whistle shaped like a conch shell, featuring a pierced hole for suspension and a larger mouth hole at the tip of the spire. Playing this instrument likely required a specific embouchure (lip position). In ancient cultures, conch shells were highly symbolic, representing fertility, the ocean, and the divine due to their spiral form, which some associated with the cycles of life and the cosmos. However, pottery versions like this ocarina offered a durable and accessible alternative to natural shells, especially in regions where conch shells were scarce. These ceramic instruments also allowed artisans to replicate and adapt the shell’s symbolic power, integrating sound and music into rituals, ceremonies, and daily life. Size: 4.5" L x 3" W x 2.5" H (11.4 cm x 7.6 cm x 6.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Studio City, California, USA collection, purchased from major galleries from the late 1960s -late 1990s

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.

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#190558

  • Condition: Intact and excellent. Some minor wear and fading to slip. Not tested for whistle functionality. It has one mouth hole which may require some embouchure skill to play.

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American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

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December 13, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000