Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Manabi Province, Bahia culture, ca. 5th to 1st century BCE. A delightful, hollow-built, pottery female figure that doubles as a playable ocarina, enveloped in liberal remains of black, red, orange, and white pigments. Standing with arms folded at her waist, the flattened figure wears an ankle-length skirt and a cord necklace as her huge head faces forward displaying elongated eyes, a projecting nose, a straight mouth, and heavily ornamented ears. Her skirt is pierced with a pair of tone holes on both sides, while the ocarina's mouthpiece is featured on the verso of her helmet-like headdress. Size: 3.9" W x 10.4" H (9.9 cm x 26.4 cm); 11.4" H (29 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA; ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000

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#198839

  • Condition: Still functions as an ocarina. Professionally repaired with restoration. Some light abrasions and root marks. Otherwise, excellent with great remaining pigments.

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December 5, 2025 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000