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Related
Tairona - Ocarina with Standing Zoomorphic Figure with Crescent Headdress - Walters 482845 - Back
Tairona - Zoomorphic Effigy Whistle - Walters 482851 - Three Quarter
Tairona - Zoomorphic Effigy Whistle - Walters 482851 - Back
Tairona - Zoomorphic Effigy Whistle - Walters 482851 - Right Side
Tlatilco - Standing Figure - Walters 482822
Olmec - Standing Figure with Topknot - Walters 482798
Huari - Head Pot with Painted Design - Walters 482849 - Three Quarter Right
Olmec - Standing Figurine - Walters 482820
Tamagawa Masaharu - Tsuba with a Monkey Teasing an Elephant with a Stick - Walters 51281
Tairona - Ocarina with Standing Zoomorphic Figure with Crescent Headdress - Walters 482845
Summary
Along with figurines, flutes and whistles were one of the most common artifacts made by ancient Pre-Columbian artists, and they are found in every culture, from the earliest times. This Tairona example closely resembles objects of other mediums (like gold), which are not whistles and depict winged figures. Such whistles are still used among the Kogi people of Columbia, who descended from the Tairona, and the wing forms may refer to shamanic flight.
A wind musical instrument, a type of whistling vessel flute. There are clay, porcelain and wooden ocarinas. The name "ocarina" is applied both to the whole family of whistling flutes and to a specific variety invented in Italy in 1860 by Giuseppe Donati and used in classical music; it is also called the "classical ocarina". Folk ocarinas are used all over the world, in Latin America, China, Africa, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. In many cultures the ocarina is considered a children's toy; in Europe it became popular as such in the mid-19th century.