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Bone Trumpet

2nd–5th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
Prior to ceramic production, bone was used for small trumpets, flutes, and panpipes. This condor-bone trumpet was probably once covered with gold, allowing the incised surface to show through the gold sheet. Made in sections, this rare example was possibly modeled on larger gourd trumpets.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bone Trumpet
  • Period: Yotoco period (Pre-Columbian)
  • Date: 2nd–5th century
  • Geography: Calima, Colombia
  • Culture: Calima, Malagana
  • Medium: Condor bone
  • Dimensions: 12 1/8 × 1 3/8 × 1 in. (30.8 × 3.5 × 2.5 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-trumpet / trombone
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Frederick M. Lehman Bequest, 2004
  • Object Number: 2004.284
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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Arm ornament, Calima (Yotoco) artist, Hammered gold, Calima-Yotoco
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Bondjo, Ivory, wood, polychrome, Ekonda people (Konda)
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