Ceramics from the Guanacaste-Nicoya Zone
during the second half of Period IV often display
strong sculptural qualities and an elegance of
line that is unsurpassed by its contemporaries. A
refined artist who was deeply engrossed in
portraying the divine simplicity of sculpture and
line undoubtedly created this exquisite avimorph
Ocarina. The Ocarina is a musical instrument of
the New World. Ocarinas come in a variety of
sizes, producing tones ranging from that of a
tenor recorder to that of a shrill whistle. The
mouthpiece and the size of the resonance
chamber are modified to produce different tones.
The largest examples sound like tenor recorders,
somewhat less resonant than a low register flute.
This avimorph Ocarina is a pleasure to look at
and to imagine the music that was once played
by the ancient musician who treasured it.
- (PF.3010)