Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A rare and wonderful pottery flute known as an ocarina in the form of a delightful frog or toad. The amphibian rests in a crouching position with legs folded under the body, and the large, rounded posterior and arched back with applied spinal ridge give a puffed up, defensive stance to the creature. The wide flat head has two applied eyes and upturned snout, adding an inquisitive expression, and the open mouth acts as the mouthpiece. Two holes in the body are tonal or note holes to change the pitch. The surface is covered with heavy slip and painted in two shades of brown ochre. This ocarina is "toad-aly" functional and creates a haunting tone. A wonderful piece of ancient musical art! Size: 4.5" L x 4" W x 3.5" H (11.4 cm x 10.2 cm x 8.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-Powers collection, Pacific Palisades, California, USA, before 2000

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#167858

Chip to front foot, otherwise Intact and quite excellent with ocarina working perfectly.