Description:

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Tairona, ca. 1000 to 1500 CE. An adorable brownware pottery ocarina in the form of an endearing songbird with its head raised, perhaps while singing "tweet, tweet, tweet!" Note the four finger holes surrounded by rings of impressed dot motifs along its body, not to mention the fabulous detailing of its eyes, impressed frets around its neck, delineation of stylized feathers on its head, its pointy beak, and the blow hole at its tail end. A remarkable form that is also perforated below the tail, so that it may be suspended from a strand. Musical and perfect for any bird watchers out there! Size: 1.75" L x 1.625" W x 1.625" H (4.4 cm x 4.1 cm x 4.1 cm)

According to Armand Labbe's "Colombia Before Columbus" (1986), "Although Tairona pottery in general is well made and the sculptural lines are well defined, Fine Brown Ware tends to be the best executed and evinces the most detail with respect to incised decoration and distinction of forms."

Provenance: private Southern California collection, USA, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006

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#161119

  • Condition: Small chip to underside. Otherwise intact with minor surface wear. Still produces a lovely sound! Lucite stand in photos not included.

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June 24, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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