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Clay whistle

Small, seated, zoomorphic figure with outstretched legs. The feline predator-like sculpture has both arms on its hips. The object has a round opening at the back of its head. There are two further small openings on its nose. An eyelet was placed on the back of the neck, which probably served as a suspension. The object has been smoothed, sanded, primed, painted and polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. There are several glued fractures on the right arm. The ceramic has a white-reddish base colour, which was painted red and black-brown. The figure has broad hips and emphasised thighs. Although the creature clearly quotes a zoomorphic figure, it adopts an anthropomorphic posture. On the thighs, arms and head are zoned pictorial fields showing black S motifs, dots, ovals and spots. They allude to the fur pattern of a feline predator. The sculpture has a red mouth mask and red body paint. Its back remains undecorated. According to Lothrop 1926: highland polychrome ware. Cultural significance: the type was produced exclusively in the south of the Gran Nicoya region and traded to the Central Highlands and the Atlantic region of Costa Rica. The pottery is known both from burials and from settlement contexts. It was often associated with the Altiplano Policromo group (1350-800d.C.). (Künne 2004)

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Data Provider
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Cataloguing data

Object type
musical instruments
Dimensions
Height: 9,7 cm
Depth: 8,7 cm
Width: 9,2 cm
Material/Technique
Sound
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 44464

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    when
    Policromo Medio (800 - 1350)
    where
    Costa Rica
    Guanacaste
    Santa Cruz
    Santa Bárbara
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    American Archaeology

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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