Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 500 to 700 CE. A wonderful pottery trumpet with an anthropomorphic figure forming the bell. The trumpet is hand built from a red terracotta and painted with black and white details. The figure represents an elite member of the warrior class, dressed in full armor, and clutching a club to his chest. He wears a pectoral, chin strap, bracelets, and ear spools. His conical headdress forms the lower part of the twisted trumpet mouthpiece. The base of the cylindrical body is opened to emit the trumpeting notes. The note pitches are controlled entirely by the player's lips for ceremonial use, which may have imitated bird calls! Size: 3" W x 10" H (7.6 cm x 25.4 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010; ex-Arte Xibalba, Osprey, Florida, USA

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#163795

TL hole on interior of bell rim and second TL hole on underside of neck, close to where mouthpiece touches headdress. Loss and chips to verso of headdress. Chip to mouthpiece rim. Wonderful details and traces of painted pigments.