This is a vessel flute - a simple wind instrument that has existed for over 12,000 years. There are different versions, this rounded ocarina is in the transverse or “sweet potato” style.  Ocarinas are made from various materials – sometimes carved from wood. They can have between four and 14 holes. This one here is terracotta. It is handmade and probably by using a mould to form the two halves, which would be joined together while the clay was still wet. There are six small holes on the top decorated side, a big hole and two small ones underneath, and a slit with two small holes in the mouthpiece (which looks like a little face).

The instrument is decorated on one side in a traditional Inca geometric pattern. These designs typically use bold black outlines of intersecting and concentric squares, diamonds, squares, dots and triangles which are partly filled in with colour, and the Incas favoured red orange, yellow and white. Traditional designs also incorporated animal shapes within the patterns. Popular animal motifs were llamas, alpacas, jaguars, birds, butterflies and bees. This ocarina has a tiny but recognisable llama in the base of the pattern.

How the ocarina is played
You hold it in both hands and play it a bit like a recorder by blowing into the mouthpiece and covering or uncovering the different holes in combinations to produce different notes. (It almost feels like blowing into the body of a little turtle.) Wiggle your fingers as you blow, and flutter your tongue to make more interesting sounds. Also try humming!

This modern ocarina has been bought from a fairtrade organisation.