Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fine set of 2 hand-built pottery whistling figures from ancient Colima. The first standing figure holds one arm to his brow, bears puffy eyes and lips on the visage, and wears a large pair of incised shells around the neck as well as a loincloth with a second face, perhaps made of flayed skin. The larger figure features an intriguing duck face with a protruding beak beneath intricate head ornamentation. The whistle mouthpiece for both figures is located atop the head while the tone holes are situated along the nape of each neck. Size of largest (duck face figure): 1.54" W x 3.22" H (3.9 cm x 8.2 cm)

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s

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#163585

Repair to proper right arm of shorter figure, with resurfacing and overpainting along break lines; taller figure is intact and very good. Both figures have light encrustations, minor nicks and abrasions, and light softening to some finer details. Both whistles still create nice sounds when air is blown into the mouthpieces.