Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE; Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, ca. 500 to 900 CE. A fascinating pair of ancient pottery flutes, one with a mold made zoomorphic head and the other with a relief snake. The terracotta Maya flute has a high relief monkey face with arms raised as if in prayer or dance. The barrel of the Colima flute is decorated with a relief serpent just before the vent hole, fired to a rich reddish grey color with four finger holes. The bulbous projections to either side almost echo feathers; perhaps this is a representation of the feathered serpent, later known as Quetzalcoatl, who figured heavily in Mesoamerican mythology. Size of largest (Colima flute): 12.75" L x 1.25" W (32.4 cm x 3.2 cm); 14.5" H (36.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, before 2010; ex-Leonard Kalina collection, California, USA, 1970-2000

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#173468

  • Condition: Colima flute is repaired. Maya flute is also repaired and restored. Both emit sounds!

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September 24, 2022 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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