Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Maya, ca. 550 to 900 CE. An impressive seashell trumpet handbuilt from terracotta and boasting a large size, attractive creamy white hues, finely incised curvilinear markings that accentuate its natural form, and a plethora of wonderful root marks that further embellish its surface. The trumpet is also conveniently perforated at the top to create a sound hole. Although there were no stringed instruments in South America prior to European contact, the indigenous peoples did have a multitude of wind and percussion instruments. These were played in large ceremonies, perhaps relating to warfare, in tandem with other instruments! Size: 5.875" W x 10.375" H (14.9 cm x 26.4 cm); 12.25" H (31.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA

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#159584

  • Condition: Chips/losses to peripheries of shell, particularly on verso, lower and upper ends, and high-pointed areas. Covered with root marks. Old collection labels on interior.

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October 22, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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