**First Time At Auction**
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE; Michoacan, ca. 1350 to 1521 CE. A lovely ensemble of 5 hand-built pottery ocarinas, each with a projecting mouth piece, a wide tone hole, and several finger holes to adjust the pitch. A group of 3 Colima ocarinas are covered in faded red slip and exhibit a variety of abstract avian and frog forms. The 2 remaining ocarinas are Michoacan in origin and feature bulbous bodies adorned with incised linear motifs and applied dark pigment. Each whistle produces a high-pitched sound when played. Size of largest (Michoacan): 2.8" L x 1.625" W (7.1 cm x 4.1 cm).
Provenance: private California, USA collection
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#135363
Condition
Both Colima bird whistles and Michoacan whistles have small losses to mouthpieces and bodies. All lamps have fading to original pigmentation, minor abrasions, and fading to finer details where applicable. Light earthen deposits throughout. Whistles produce high-pitched sound when played.