Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Guangala culture, ca. 100 to 500 CE. A highly burnished brownware pottery whistle depicting a nude male figure standing with a slight forward lean. Intricate linear motifs are incised across the surfaces to create a broad pectoral collar, twin fish on each bicep, curvilinear decorations around the head and abdomen, and layered designs down the legs. A trio of transverse whistle mouthpieces on the verso create either high- or low-pitched tones. The crescent ornament dangling from the septum is shaped from a petite sheet of 87.29% gold (equivalent to 20K+) and creates a bright contrast to the earthy hues of the pottery. Size: 3.5" W x 7.4" H (8.9 cm x 18.8 cm); 7.6" H (19.3 cm) on included custom stand; gold quality: 87.29% (equivalent to 20K+)

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010; ex-Matt Gonzales collection, San Francisco, California, USA; ex-Arte Xibalba, Osprey, Florida, USA; ex-Peter Hacinto collection, New York, New York, USA

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#175059

  • Condition: Professional repair to neckline, with restoration, resurfacing, and overpainting along break lines. Minor abrasions and fading to pigment commensurate with age, with possible retooling to some incised decorations, and softening to some facial features, otherwise in very good condition. Nice preservation to incised decorations and gold septum ornament. Whistles create nice sound when played. Gold septum ornament has not been removed for weighing.

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October 20, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
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