Bowl with Geometric Design c. 601 - 900

This bowl with geometric design was created by a Maya artist using clay, and mineral pigments. The bowl’s elegant form and decoration are testaments to the artist’s skill and attention to detail. Its warm, earthy tones come from the natural properties of the clay and pigments, while the painted geometric designs reflect sophisticated artistic traditions. Bowls like this were likely made by hand, using a coiling or molding technique and slow-fired, as these methods would have been very labor-intensive. Objects like this were used in daily life and ritual practices. This bowl represents the deep connection between material culture, artistic expression, and social life in Mayan civilization. It goes to show that there really isn't much of a distinction between art and craft; there is just good making.