JAMACOAQUE FIGURAL POTTERY WHISTLE

This is a large authentic Pre Columbian pottery whistle/ocarina from Ecuador from a private collection. Jamacoaque 350 BC - 1200 AD. The front has a human head on what seems to be the front of a jaguar with paw feet. It tapers to a rounded point and has an attached handle.The face has excellent detail with deep set eyes with brow ridges, earrings,very prominent nose ring and  an open mouth with pointed teeth.  The teeth give it a rather frightening appearance no doubt intentional.The nose is not damaged but obscured by a thick nose ring that hangs down on the top lip.

There is a hole at the back and one in the front of the head. One in the back is what you blow into and the other is to cover with your finger to get whistle  volume. The body is smooth and not decorated . IT DOES MAKE A NICE SOUND.  It is large 4 1/2 " long and 4 1/4 " high and rests on 2 paw feet. Clay color is buff not quite as dark as the photos.. I am saying Jamacoaque but it was in a mixed collection with LaTolita fragments all from Ecuador.

In very good condition with some TINY chips to the side lappets that are not evident from the front but I have the damage pictured. It has been restored by a professional museum restorer and there is one photo before restoration  where the front legs were cracked on the back  You can see a thin line that the restorer left uncovered for some reason.  There are 2 holes one in the end to blow the whistle and the other to control the sound. This  a rare large whistle  to find in this condition and an  original , not a reproduction. Please feel free to ask questions.