What's this item I found in my closet?

[hanzj]

I have wondered what this item was, but couldn't figure it out. The back side says "Made in Peru." If that's a clue, there you have it.

What is this thing?
The one who correctly identifies this item will be the winner of temporal recognition in this forum.

[Randomskk]

My guess is an oil lamp.
Put oil in the top (undecorated part), and a wick going through that hole. Burn the wick.

edit: maybe not, the oil would seep out the bottom. Didn't see those holes.
Still, some masking tape later it would make a good oil lamp :D

[christhemonkey]

It looks a lot like a whistle that we have that belonged to my grandad.

To play it (well our one anyway) just blow through the hole in the front,
and to change pitch, cover the 2 holes on the bottom.

I may be completely wrong though...

[hanzj]

Monkey,
Hey, it does sound like a whistle, but only when i cover both round holes on the bottom. Leaving both or either open will produce no whistly sound.

[Randomskk]

Ah! I was getting the scale all wrong.
I believe it's an ocarina.

edit: if it's hand sized then I'm sure of this, since the holes are in the same layout as my ocarina.
I could scan in some little guides on playing it too, pretty simple - just shows which holes to cover.
edit2: that is, if I can find my book on it >_>

[christhemonkey]

No problem!

[Azrael]

Yup, it's a sacred ocarina used to summon quetzalcoatl (or princess Zelda).

[Randomskk]

This google image search(safesearch off), third row, second column shows something remarkably similar to yours:
http://images.google.com/images?q=ocarina&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&start=20&sa=N

This is the page, although images don't seem to work:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:95UoiwB1zL8J:www.kouklacarolyn.com/archives/category/everyday-matters/feed/+site:www.kouklacarolyn.com+44+Peruvian+Ocarina&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1 (scroll down some)

I'll see if I can find this book, may have thrown it though.

[hanzj]

RandomSkk,
Yes it's hand sized.

these pics should have coin beside the thing. But i've got no american quarters. only japanese coins. on second thought, a ruler is best.

[matthew]

It's an ocarina. They are flute-like instruments and come in several styles.

EDIT: here's a link to find out more about the instrument. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina

[Randomskk]

This is a link to someone's blog post on an almost identical item, although the image is gone (google image search has it cached).
http://www.kouklacarolyn.com/archives/44

No luck yet on finding this book though. It's probably in the bin :(

[Kimm]

I'd say thats some cind of flute

[PatrickMay16]

Like everyone else said, that's definitely an Ocarina.
I have a very similar one to that, also made in peru with a similar pattern painted on it, but a slightly different shape.

Try playing some tunes on it. They're very easy to play, and quite a bit of fun.

[Bragador]

LOL

You ignorant guys make me laugh...

HA !

It is OBVIOUSLY a primitive computer mouse that was used by the ancient Incas.

[Lovechild]

it's ugly that's what it is.