Bowk Maya, Mexico, Classic P., 250 - 900 AD Terracotta and pigments 10,3 cm height and 19 cm diameter. PROVENANCE: - Private collection, Paris, France. 1960 - 1980. - Thence by descendent. Condition: Good, see photos. Documents: With Spanish Import / Export license. The Maya civilization flourished in Mesoamerica from around 2000 BCE until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Its territory included present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Maya are well known for their achievements in writing, astronomy, mathematics, and monumental architecture. However, their artistic traditions, especially in terracotta figures and decorated bowls, also reveal much about their religious beliefs and daily life. Terracotta figures were often handmade and represented deities, rulers, warriors, musicians, and ordinary people. Many were used in domestic altars or placed in tombs as funerary offerings. These figures frequently show detailed clothing, jewelry, and facial expressions, highlighting social status and cultural identity. The Maya believed in a complex spiritual world, and these objects helped connect humans with gods and ancestors. Maya ceramic bowls were equally significant. They were decorated with painted scenes, glyphs, mythological beings, and geometric patterns. Some bowls depicted episodes from sacred stories, while others were used in rituals involving food, drink, or offerings. The careful craftsmanship and symbolic decoration demonstrate the importance of art as both a practical and spiritual expression in Maya society.