Mayan bowl; Mesoamerica, 600–900 AD

Mayan bowl; Mesoamerica, 600–900 AD
Polychrome terracotta.
Provenance: Private collection of Tony Gilyard, Florida. Previously in the Tharpe collection, USA.
Cracks present.
Dimensions: 17.5 x 19 cm.
Mayan bowl with a globular belly, rounded at the base, opening outward at the neck. It is ornamentally differentiated and ends in a simple, wide, and flat mouth. The reservoir area is entirely covered with dark brushed figurative motifs decorated in orange tones on a white pigmented background. It depicts sacred or ritual scenes, featuring two priests or deities.
Mayan ceramics encompass a wide variety of types, both for use and rituals. Pieces are decorated with reliefs and incised motifs, monochrome slips, or with polychrome figurative motifs (see below). These were always pieces made by modeling, as this culture did not know the wheel. The colors used were always engobes, based on clay, and the vessels were fired at a low temperature of approximately 800°C. Unlike monuments, which were intended for public view, pottery enjoyed great freedom among the Maya, as it was intended for private use, whether daily or funerary. Hence the multiplicity of decorative styles and typologies, including jars for storing essences and medicines, household tableware, incense burners, and even articulated figurines.