Published Tairona Okarina in Form of a Bird

Culture: Tairona Culture/Northern Colombia

Period: 1000-1550 A.D.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 12.9 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 11120

Provenance: Austrian private collection Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994) with inventory number M 156. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. In the family estate ever since. With copies of the collection note and the catalog page.

Condition: Intact and today still playable.

Description: Large, elaborately worked out vessel flute of the Tairona culture in form of a seated bird with resting wings. The animal with a round head, bulging, bulbous eyes and a strong crooked beak. The wings are folded on the back, the tail feathers protrude semi-circularly. The plumage of the bird is adorned with fine stamped decoration, amongst them circles, lines and zig zag bands around the neck. The mouthpiece to create the tones is on the smooth bottom. The finger holes to vary the tones are around the neck. The flute is still playable today. See for the type: Armand J. Labbé “Colombia Antes De Colón”, Bogota 1988, p. 228, no. 164. The present okarina is published in: Josef Mairitsch “Columbus am Wörthersee. Amerika vor Columbus.” Catalogue for the special exhibition of the cultural department of the state capital Klagenfurt from 1 June to 31 October 1992, p. 99.