In 1963 an Englishman named John Taylor made his first four hole, full octave ocarina.  Up until this time most ocarina's employed one finger hole for each note.   Mr. Taylor's innovation is a progressive system that combines holes to provide additional notes.  Adding a fifth finger hole provides a ninth note (do through re) that is very useful.   I find the system to my liking because you only need to keep track of five fingers, which is about all the coordination I can manage.

Ocarina Gallery

Below are thumbnail pictures of some of my creations.  Each is a five hole ocarina.  I work with a red earthenware clay that is decorated with oxides, commercial underglazes, and a clear glaze.  The pieces with a textured finish use "Andy's crawl" glaze.  I fire in an electric kiln to cone 05 or 04. Click on any thumbnail to view full size picture, Click back to return to the gallery.

Click on pictures to enlarge

Medium Bug 2.5" x 2.5" x 3"

Medium Beast 3.5" x 3" x 5"

Medium Frog 2.5" x 2.5" x 2.5"

Large Bug 3" x 3" X 5"

Medium Turtle 2.5" x 2.5" x 3"

Pendant style Sea Monster 2" x 2" x 2.5"

Small Dragon 3.5" x 3" x 4"

Medium Fish 2.5" x 2" x 4"

Medium Bird 2" x 3" x 5"

Medium Head 2" x 2" x 3"

Medium Owl 2" x 2" x 2.5"

Pendant style Wormtop 1.5" x 1.5" x 2.5"

Pendant style pewter glaze, 2" x 2" x 3"

Pendant style Birdhead 2" x 2.5" x 3"

Leafhopper 2" x 2.5" x 3"

Sea Creature 2.5" x 3" x 2.5"

Pig 2" x 2" x 2.5"

Medium Dragon 2.5" x 4" x 5"

Slug 2" x 2.5" x 3"

Dinosaur 2.5" x 3" x 5"

Pendant style Dragon top 2" x 2" x 2.5"

Pendant style Chili pepper, 2.5" x 3" x 1.5"

Large Lizard 3.5" x 3.5" x 8" (The head and body are separate ocarinas)

Large Bird 3.5" x 4" x 7.5"

Dragontop 2.5" x 1.5" x 1.5" Apr '06

Penguin 3" x 1.5" x 1.5" Apr '06

Large Dinosaur 8" x 5.5" x 4" Apr '06

Doodle Pig 2.5" x 1.5" x 1.5" Apr '06