Rattle figure of an elite woman with headdress and backrack

Maya

ca. 600 - 900

Ceramic with pigment

Seattle Art Museum

A ceramic figure depicts a seated person with elaborate headdress and surrounding decorative elements. The figure wears a necklace and a patterned skirt. A ceramic figure depicts a seated person with elaborate headdress and surrounding decorative elements. The figure wears a necklace and a patterned skirt. Elaborate costumes, such as headdresses and backracks, were worn for dancing festivities. Hollow, mold-made sculptures like this were filled with clay balls, used as rattles, and colorfully painted. Gift of John H. Hauberg Collection of John H. Hauberg (1916-2002), Seattle, Washington, by 1999; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 1999 Object number 99.80