Description:

**Originally Listed At $250**

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Tumaco (sometimes La Tolita) culture, ca. 350 BCE to 350 CE. A fine ensemble of three mold-formed pottery whistles, each depicting a human at some point during the shamanic transformation process. The smallest and middle whistles show a petite figure with a rounded head, huge earrings, a drop-form body, and four enormous limbs with large claws. The largest depicts a nearly complete transformation with the figure exhibiting a greater degree of feline qualities than anthropomorphic. Each whistle produces a high-pitched sound when played through the conical mouthpieces. Size of largest (near-complete transformation): 1.8" W x 2.9" H (4.6 cm x 7.4 cm).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private W.S. collection, New York, New York, USA

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#143342

  • Condition: All items have small losses to peripheries as shown. Each item has minor nicks to head, body, limbs, and mouthpieces, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory numbers written in black ink beneath base of each whistle. Whistles produce high-pitched sound when played.

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January 19, 2023 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