Lot 358
Ocarina: Costa Rica, ca. 500 CE. Ocarinas are also sometimes called globular flutes. This ceramic piece is in the shape of a mammal, possibly an armadillo. Its tail has a mouthpiece, and there are four holes in the sides for producing music. There is also a hole on the top that is unrelated to the musical function that may have been for attaching it to a string or hanging it from something -- imagine someone carrying such a piece with them in their daily life. The decorations of the animal figure include carving that looks like natural armor, and a broad, smiling face. Artisans in the New World, and particularly in Latin America, made ceramic instruments at a time when Europeans were still experimenting with wooden and metal instruments; the versatility of ceramic allowed these artisans to make much more complicated sounds than their European counterparts. If you are interested in the sounds produced by this flute, you can search for "costa rica ocarina" on youtube.com and find people playing reproductions. Size: 3" long, 1 1/2" wide, and 1 3/4" tall. Vessel: West Mexico, ca. 200 BCE. This is a tiny stone vessel in the shape of a saurian animal's head, with a handle on the back. The eyes are wide and there is a hole that runs through the lower jaw, possibly for attaching this piece to a string. Size: 1 1/4" long, 3/4" wide, and 3/4" tall. Provenance: Ex-private Simonian collection, Los Angeles, CA acquired before 1982 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. #110129
- Condition: The ocarina is fully intact with no signs of repair; there is some patina and wear to the features but they are generally very clear. The vessel has two very small chips (<1/8") to the face and rim, but otherwise is intact and the carving is clear.
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| 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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |