Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Manabi Province, Bahia culture, ca. 5th to 1st century BCE. A molded, fine ceramic votive ocarina in the form of a standing figure holding a flute. The large, smooth head has been painted a glossy, earthy red; its bulbous shape probably reflects a tradition of skull shaping within the culture and may indicate the social status of the individual the figure is modeled after. The body is smooth and largely stylized, with a pear-shaped body that terminates in short, wide legs on gently tilted, squared-off feet. The relief hands and flute bring some more realistic detail to the figure. The Bahia continued in the long Ecuadorian tradition of ceramic effigy making and may have been used in rituals or as offerings; one archaeological site, on La Plata Island, has yielded thousands of broken effigy figures similar to this one. Size: 3.75" W x 12.5" H (9.5 cm x 31.8 cm); 13.2" H (33.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

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#131272

  • Condition: Repaired and restored, with overpainting along the restoration lines, on one leg and on nose. Ocarina is still functional!

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May 10, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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