Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. An impressive – still playable! – pottery conch shell musical instrument with a blow hole at one end. Among the many finely modeled pottery figures created by ancient West Mexican artisans are wonderful depictions of conch shell ‘horn’ players blowing through conch shells presumably to produce sonorous effects for entertainment and/or ritualistic purposes. Here we have an actual pottery conch shell instrument, replete with a naturalistic form, a smooth white slip exterior, and the ability to recreate music inspired by the ancients of the Americas. A wonderful blend of form and function with a lovely burnished finish and a loud whistle! Size: 6.3″ L x 3.4″ W x 3″ H (16 cm x 8.6 cm x 7.6 cm)
Condition: Still functions as a trumpet. Surface wear with nicks and abrasions as show, but otherwise, intact and excellent with good remains of slip and earthen deposits to interior.
Provenance: private Reinsmoen collection, Clear Lake, Iowa, acquired through descent from Robert Anderson, acquired prior to 2000; ex-Cheryl M. Carpenter collection; ex-Donald A. Still estate, Bodega, California, USA, October 1985
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 purchases.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
