Pair of rattles; Maya culture, Honduras, El Salvador,... Lot 9

Pair of rattles; Maya culture, Honduras, El Salvador, AD 550-900. Terracotta. They show slight wear and earthy adhesions. Measurements: 17 x 8 x 4.5 cm; 16.5 x 8.5 x 4 cm. Pair of ceremonial rattles representing two richly attired female figures, with earrings, necklaces and facial ornaments. Unlike monuments, which were intended to be seen by all, pottery enjoyed great freedom among the Maya, as it was intended for private use, whether for everyday or funerary purposes. Maya pottery encompasses a wide variety of typologies, both for use and rituals, pieces decorated with reliefs and incised motifs, monochrome engobes or with figurative polychrome motifs. The pieces were always made by modelling, as this culture did not know how to use a potter's wheel. The colours used were always engobes, with a clay base, and the vessels were fired at a low temperature of approximately 800ºC.