Narino Pottery Whistle Conch Shell Form Monkey Motif

Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Narino/Capuli Complex, Narino culture, ca. 850 to 1500 CE. A hand-built pottery whistle in the form of a hollow conch shell. Painted with maroon motifs atop a creamy yellow ground, the instrument presents with 1 large and 1 small tone hole on the body as well as a pair of suspension holes near the top. This type of whistle was used by blowing air transversely across the tone holes to create a sound, whereas most ancient whistles where air must be blown into the vessel. Size: 3.2" L x 2.81" W (8.1 cm x 7.1 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, 1995 to 2010; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950s to 1960s

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#108981
Condition Report: Minor abrasions to body, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to painted motifs. Whistle does not create sound when air is blown transversely over the tone holes. Old inventory label on bottom.