Pair of Costa Rican Pottery Whistles / Ocarinas (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 68)

$289.13

Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. A charming pair of Costa Rican pottery whistles, each formed as a compact figural vessel and still capable of producing sound after centuries. Modeled in ceramic, the whistles feature rounded bodies with applied animal or bird-like heads, pierced with air holes and spouts designed to create tone when blown. One retains a warm reddish surface, while the other shows darker mineral deposits. Their small scale and lively forms suggest use in ritual, communication, or musical performance. Both remain functional, offering a rare and immediate connection to the soundscape of ancient Costa Rican life. Size of larger (blackware): 2.4″ L x 1.5″ W (6.1 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 2005

Condition: Chipping and losses with weathering to surfaces as shown. Both still function as whistles. Scattered earthen deposits throughout.