Pottery flute with gold in it

[suwannee pirate]

Here is what appears to be a very old pottery flute with lots of gold mixed in the pottery Bob

 

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[suwannee pirate]

Look at the lizards back and see the gold ,its all through it ! what you think Gypsey ? Bob

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Ok...are there any other holes in it ,other thasn the one on the end?
And I dont think its Native american ...looks more Mayan...but let me do some checking.....the gold mixed with the clay is really cool.Now spill your guts and give me some details on it....will accept personal mail...hahaha

 

[suwannee pirate]

Yea Its Mayan , I belive . The Spainards broke most of this stuff up for the gold content to smelt into coins and gold bars .There are little holes all down the back of it . Original Kokopelli ? It is made to stand up .It is not functional .It was wrapped in a cloth that was of medium weave from the dust/grime imprint. Bob

 

[Noodle]

Ahem! Is that what they called them back then?? My, oh, my! Gives 'play me a tune' a whole new meaning!

 

[Gypsy Heart]

These beautiful Handmade Ceramic Flutes were crafted by the Maya Indians in a Guatemala Village. Prior to working with the Mayan Artist Network and the Tribal Mall, the works from this Mayan family had been sold exclusively at craft stands in Guatemala villages.





Mayan Token King
w/Lizard going down
Mayan Token King
w/arms folded (SOLD)
Mayan Token King
w/Lizard going up
Mayan Token King
w/hand on chin



This ceramic flute is approximately 10" tall and a 1 1/2" diameter, not including the attached sculptures. The Mayan animals (birds, fish, lizards & turtles), sun & moon, &/ totems are handmade sculptures attached directly onto the flute before firing in the underground kilns. These handmade flutes have been used by the Mayan Indians for centuries for communication & ceremonies of their village.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Since the early 1900s, the
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology has been a leader in research on the ancient
Maya and other peoples who lived in the area often referred
to as "Mesoamerica"--encompassing Mexico, Guatemala, Belize,
El Salvador and parts of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

West Mexican shaman figurines of clay, a ceramic Aztec flute, and a
nearly 3000-year-old miniature jade were-jaguar mask of the
Olmec people, are some of the objects which introduce
visitors to Mesoamerican religion, rich in rituals that
included blood sacrifice, the burning of incense, music and
dance. For ancient Mesoamericans all things had a life
force, ancestors and gods could and would be invoked to help
the living, and shamans could transform into animals like
the powerful jaguar and communicate directly with gods.
http://www.upennmuseum.com/pressreleases/forum.pl?msg=55

 

[Burdie]

Whoa!! You won me over GH. I would love to hear the story behind that flute. Burdie

 

[suwannee pirate]

Great info. Gypsy, Did it say anything about flecks and small pieces of gold mixed in with the clay before the flute was fired? I may be wrong but this has all indications of being pretty old .I collect some pottery and can usually spot a copy. Now for the rest of the story It was found under the seat of a car that was towed in as abandoned after setting for a while . It was rolled up in a paper bag,also in the bag were two ten dollar silver certificates in a small pouch. This was when I had the U-Pull It salvage yard ,we found all kinds of stuff in those cars! Bob

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Guatemala is gold field. They are opening new mines today. I would think that if this is where that flute originated that the gold was mixed in then. If the flute was excavated in PA, it could have very well been from the Mayan culture and brought over....but you would need to have it dated ......either way ....its an excellent find...even if you didnt
have to dig deep for it!!!!

 

[DJ_Quinn]

So it's essentially a museum piece. I would have it apraised and insure it at this point.

 

[suwannee pirate]

Thanks for the info on this piece ,I am going to check with the University of Pa. on it some more[Thanks Gypsy] and see what they can tell me about it.Then I'll toss it in the snake filled vault with the rest of my junk for my kids to ebay when I'm gone.If the Mayan artifact cops don't get it first! Bob

 

[lewisaroyer]

pottery with gold

Thanks for the info on this piece ,I am going to check with the University of Pa. on it some more[Thanks Gypsy] and see what they can tell me about it.Then I'll toss it in the snake filled vault with the rest of my junk for my kids to ebay when I'm gone.If the Mayan artifact cops don't get it first! Bob

I have an old piece with gold specks also. Did you ever find anything out about it?