INSTRUMENTS — MelissaWebsiteOK

Catalogue of unique pieces

Every instrument is carefully handcrafted.
From mud to music.

To purchase an instrument or to request more information,
get in touch by email: hello@melissahyattfoss.com

GRID VIEW - INDEX

MUSIC MASK

MINERAL MIND

2023
7 x 10.5 x 3.75 in
Wild clay, beeswax

OCARINAS / GLOBULAR or VESSEL FLUTES

Early inhabitants of Mesoamerica and South America were prolific ocarina designers and builders for thousands of years; flutes were made in different shapes and sizes, in the form of birds, animals, reptiles, fruits, vegetables, and deities.

OWL OCARINA

2022
2.75 x 3.75 x 4.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

CYPRESS PINECONE OCARINA

2024
5 x 5.5 x 1.75 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

MILKWEED DOUBLE OCARINA

2024
5.25 x 2 x 7.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BARRED OWL OCARINA

2024
10 x 3.5 x 4.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BIRDY OCARINAS

2022
Various dimensions
Earthenware

WHISTLING BOTTLE / VASIJA SILBADORA

Whistling bottles were produced by different cultures from about 1500 BCE to 1500 CE, in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico. They are composed of a system of hollow tubes and vessels and produce sound through one more or more small whistles. They can be played by blowing into their spouts to activate the whistle, and some can be played through the movement of water in their interior, which pushes air out through the whistle as the instrument is rocked back and forth.

LOON WHISTLING BOTTLE

2024
9 x 3.75 x 10.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

RATTLES / MARACAS / SONAJEROS

Rattles are one of the oldest instruments and in many societies, they are associated with the supernatural and accompany religious rites. Early rattles were made from a wide variety of materials, such as dried gourds, fruit, seaweed, seed pods, tortoise shells, leather, and other natural materials. Examples of ancient clay rattles have been found all over the world.

SILK FLOSS RAINSTICK

2024
18.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

SWEET GUM RATTLES

2024
7.25 x 3.5 x 3.5 in each
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

FLOWER FLUTES / FLAUTAS DE FLOR

Flower flutes are duct flutes that traditionally had four fingerholes, and a bell in the shape of a blossom. They were created by the Aztec in Late Post-Classic Mesoamerica (1350-1521 CE) where flowers were associated with beauty, virtuosity, and music.

LILAC DOUBLE FLUTE

2024
8.75 x 4 x 2 in
Earthenware, oxides, beeswax

FLOWER FLUTE

2021
10.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

LILY FLUTE

2023
10.25 x 4 x 4 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BELLS / CAMPANAS

Bells have been made with many different materials and are widely distributed geographically. In some cultures, they’ve been used to communicate directly with spirits, and in others they have symbolized paradise and the voice of God.

SHELL BELLS

2023
2.75 x 2.75 x 6.5 in
3.25 x 3.25 x 7 in
3.75 x 3.75 x 7 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

TRUMPETS / TROMPETAS

The trumpet was one of the most significant musical instruments in the pre-Columbian Andean World, in terms of denotation of power. Natural trumpets produce a single pitch, but can produce different tones through varying lip vibration and air pressure.

HERON HORN

2023
10.5 x 4 x 8 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BOBCAT TRUMPET

2022
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax
16 x 5 x 11 in

BOXWOOD HORN

2024
14 x 4.25 x 4.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

POLYPHONIC FLUTES / FLAUTAS POLIFÓNICAS

Polyphonic flutes are tubular duct flutes where one instrument can be made up of two, three, or even four different flutes. These types of flutes were common to Mesoamerica, made by cultures like the Colima, Aztec, and Maya.

MUSHROOM DOUBLE FLUTE

2022
10.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides

SNAKE DOUBLE FLUTE

2022
12.5 x 5 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, beeswax

BRAIN CORAL TRIPLE FLUTE

2022
4.25 x 15 x 1 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

SPOTTED TURTLE FLUTE

2023
10 x 3.75 x 2.5 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

LITTLE MUSHROOMS TRIPLE FLUTE

2024
7 x 3.5 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

TIMBER RATTLER TRIPLE FLUTE

2024
6.5 x 8.5 x 1 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

ANCESTOR'S FLUTE

2023
12 x 3.75 x 1.25 in
Earthenware, oxides, pigments

SOUND SCULPTURE

TURTLE TOWER

2024
11.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 in
Earthenware

MILKWEEK DOUBLE OCARINA / OCARINA DOBLE DE ALGODONCILLO

TYPE: OCARINA
(GLOBULAR FLUTE)

Double ocarina inspired by Milkweed plant. Features two nearly identical flutes with parallel finger holes that produce rich tones with subtle beating, an acoustic phenomenon that feels like a pulsating in the sound.

Ocarina doble inspirada en la planta de algodoncillo. Cuenta con dos flautas casi idénticas con orificios para los dedos que producen tonos ricos con frecuencias de batimiento, un fenómeno acústico que se siente como una pulsación en el sonido.

YEAR: 2024
DIMS: 5.25 x 2 x 7.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

BARRED OWL OCARINA / OCARINA DE BÚHO BARRADO

TYPE: OCARINA
(GLOBULAR FLUTE)

Owl-shaped flute with four finger holes.

Flauta en forma de búho con cuatro agujeros para los dedos.

YEAR: 2024
DIMS: 10 x 3.5 x 4.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

LILY FLUTE / FLAUTA LIRIO

TYPE: FLOWER FLUTE

Tubular flute with a Lily flower-shaped bell and pentatonic tuning.

Flauta tubular con campana en forma de flor de lirio y afinación pentatónica.

YEAR: 2023
DIMS: 10.25 x 4 x 4 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

HERON HORN / CUERNO DE GARZA

TYPE: TRUMPET

Horn inspired by Great Blue Heron. This sculptural instrument can be played in different ways to produce sounds ranging from percussive to bird-like calls to deep vibrating drones.

Cuerno inspirado en la Gran Garza Azul. Este instrumento escultórico se puede tocar de diferentes maneras para producir sonidos que van desde percusivos hasta llamados de pájaros y drones con vibraciones graves y profundas.

YEAR: 2023
DIMS: 10.5 x 4 x 8 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

TURTLE TOWER / TORRE TORTUGA

TYPE: SOUND SCULPTURE

Hydraulic vessel featuring thirteen different whistles which are activated when the sculpture is submerged in water.

Vasija hidráulica con trece pequeños silbatos diferentes que se activan cuando la escultura se sumerge en agua.

YEAR: 2024
DIMS: 11.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware

LOON WHISTLING BOTTLE / VASIJA SILBADORA COLIMBO

TYPE: WHISTLING BOTTLE

Double chambered whistling bottle featuring Loon motif. This instrument is composed of a system of hollow vessels and tubes, and produces sound through a small whistle, which is the person inside Loon’s chest. The whistle is activated by blowing into or across the spout, or through movement of water in its interior.

Vasija silbadora de doble cámara con motivo de Colimbo. Este instrumento está compuesto por un sistema de vasijas y tubos huecos, y produce sonido a través de un pequeño silbato, que es el personaje que se encuentra dentro del pecho del Colimbo. El silbato se activa soplando dentro o a través del pico, o mediante el movimiento del agua en su interior.

YEAR: 2024
DIMS: 9 x 3.75 x 10.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

SILK FLOSS RAINSTICK / PALO DE LLUVIA PALO BORRACHO

TYPE: RATTLE (IDIOPHONES)

Inspired by the thorny trunk of Silk Floss tree, this rainstick is entirely made of clay and uses an internal system of clay spikes and pellets to create prolonged melodic tinkling noise, reminiscent of rain, when the instrument is tilted from one end to the other.

Inspirado en el tronco espinoso del árbol Palo Borracho, este palo de lluvia está hecho enteramente de arcilla y utiliza un sistema interno de púas y bolitas de arcilla para crear un tintineo melódico prolongado, que recuerda a la lluvia, cuando se gira el instrumento de un extremo al otro.

YEAR: 2024
DIMS: 18.25 x 2.5 x 2.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

OWL OCARINA / OCARINA BÚHO

TYPE: OCARINA
(GLOBULAR FLUTE)

Globular-style flute in the shape of an owl with painted iconography.

Flauta globular en forma de búho con iconografía pintada.

YEAR: 2022
DIMS: 2.75 x 3.75 x 4.5 in
MEDIUM: Earthenware, oxides, pigments, beeswax

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Each instrument is unique and crafted by hand

2026