Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, late Maya, ca. 900 CE. A fabulous whistle instrument hand made from pottery with an owl that forms the mouthpiece via the tail and a vent hole on its shoulder. A slender rod with a hole drilled into the base may have functioned as both a handle for playing the instrument and perhaps mounting as a finial when not in use. The whistle functions perfectly, emitting a piercing high tone - a bit like an owl's shriek. The owl was revered by the ancient people for its special characteristics that were associated with the underworld; nocturnal hunters with silent flight feathers, strong talons, and uncanny ability to rotate its head 180 degrees. A single blast on this instrument may have been a ritualistic sound, warning, or harbinger of death to those who heard it. Size: 6.75" L x 2.75" W (17.1 cm x 7 cm)

Provenance: private Ferndale, Michigan, USA collection; ex-private Detroit, Michigan, USA collection, acquired prior to 2004

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#182569

  • Condition: Repaired, owl reattached at the feet with visible break line and chip. Manganese desposits throughout. Whistle functions, emiting a high tone!

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November 30, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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