Antique (Possibly Mayan) Unusual Polychrome Stoneware Pottery Pot
Antique Unusual Polychrome Stoneware Pottery. Possibly Mayan. This unusual lidded clay pot is very early.
Measure 12" Diameter x 9" High.
Antique Unusual Polychrome Stoneware Pottery. Possibly Mayan. This unusual lidded clay pot is very early.
Measure 12" Diameter x 9" High.
Antique Unusual Polychrome Stoneware Pottery. Possibly Mayan. This unusual lidded clay pot is very early.
Measure 12" Diameter x 9" High.
From Wikipedia
Maya ceramics are made from two main types of materials that relate to their social structure, limestone and volcanic ash. Most of the land around the Mayans was limestone, which is where calcite comes from. These were mainly made as gifts and given to make local alliances, and these vessels are found in a more localized area. Whereas the ones made from volcanic ash are more widespread because they were thought to be given as gifts from the upper class to make very large alliances, through the Maya trade systems.[16]
Although the Maya are well known for creating a multitude of art, they are perhaps known for their pottery. they used these potteries also to perform The Mayas used to perform their sacrifice rituals with melodic tones because these rituals were a way of praying for rain, the blood dropped by the wars captive was a form of asking their gods for rain and agriculture, since these two components are connected, with rain the Mayas would have grown with their agriculture.
Ceramics play a big role in society during the Maya Classic Period, when the Maya elite used ceramics not only to give gifts to foreign dignitaries, but they were also used in feasts during the Classic Period. Specialized pottery was made for the graves of nobles. Not anyone could make this pottery as it was very important they knew about the Maya history, mythology, and more. On these ceramics, intricate scenes were depicted which showed the palace life of the elite. The decorative scenes needed to feature the elite because they were the primary customers and wanted to have artwork that featured themselves.[17] On each ceramic piece near the rim, its contents would be listed out, a type of beverage for a vase or food for a plate, then who it belonged to was written next. The rim also may feature Saurian head labels which may indicate a specific location where the piece was made or where the scene on the piece took place.[18] Since these ceramics were traded and gifted, many end up in differing environments. In Teotihuacan, many ceramics from Tikal have been found due to being traded between traveling merchants between different cities in Mesoamerica.[19] Specialists mainly pay attention to the writing, drawings, and hieroglyphs, since they were different for the different people and cultures they were made by.[20] As for the everyday use more simple ware was made, generally of only one color, and would be produced in large quantities for the general public use.[21] Maya pottery only weakly correlates to socio-economic levels of Maya society because of the value the culture emphasized ceramics. Rituals were where the Maya registered status rather than in pottery.[22]