This pre-Columbian Mayan plate, dating from the classic period of the Mayan 600 to 900 A.D. is a magnificent example of the painted pottery of this civilization. Made of ceramic with traces of polychromy, the plate features a vibrant decoration with a central motif of a stylized bird, possibly a hummingbird or a macaw, two birds with a strong symbolic charge in the Mayan worldview. The color palette, with reddish, orange and black tones, is characteristic of the pottery of the Mayan Lowlands, where some of the most refined ceramic productions were developed. This type of container, beyond its utilitarian function, was used in ritual and ceremonial contexts, and even in funerary offerings, which reinforces its cultural importance. The bird motif in Mayan iconography is associated with the sun, rebirth and communication with the divine world, being common in codices and mural painting. This plate bears similarities to pieces found in archaeological sites such as Tikal, Uaxactún and Copán, where ceramics with similar decorative styles have been documented, reflecting the artistic mastery of the Mayans in the symbolic representation of their environment. Provenance : European Private Collection acquired before 1980 with TL test from 2018 and Export License from Spain