Description:

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region, Tairona, Gayraca style, ca. 1300 to 1500 CE. An endearing pair of musical instruments from the ancient Tairona peoples of Columbia, created in the Gayraca style, the ocarina depicting a musician, the flute depicting a jaguar. Both drilled for suspension; the flute through the arms, the ocarina just between the knees. Flute measures 2-3/4"L (6.99 cm) and ocarina measures 2-3/8"L (6.03 cm).

Similar examples are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See accession numbers 1984.507.9 (http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/503242) for a comparable ocarina, a very similar form showing a seated musician playing his own ocarina atop the actual ocarina. See accession number 1984.507.7 (http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/503240) for a similar flute representing a toothy jaguar. Provenance: Ex-private Houston, TX collection acquired at auction or local gallery between 1982 and 1994. 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. #108105

  • Condition: A few tiny chips to the heads of each. Both play beautifully!

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May 21, 2015 8:00 AM MDT
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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000