Rattle of a Man Wearing a Bird Mask
Maya
1 of 8
Object Label
Solid and hollow Maya ceramic figurines like these representing men wearing elaborate animal headdresses and masks are common funerary items, found primarily on Jaina Island in Mexico. High social status is indicated by the elaborate regalia and ornaments. The nobleman in the center wears a removable serpent-head headdress decorated with precious quetzal feathers, possibly associating him with the Feathered Serpent deity Kukulcán. The whistle on the left depicts a man wearing a jaguar mask and sacrificial scarf emblematic of the God of the Underworld. The rattle on the right represents a man wearing a bird mask and holding two rattles. His large, feathered back ornament is an attribute of the turkey or vulture. Turkeys (associated with fertility) and vultures (associated with sacrifice) were used as ceremonial offerings.
Caption
Maya. Rattle of a Man Wearing a Bird Mask, 500–850. Ceramic, 7 1/4 x 5 x 3 1/4 in. (18.4 x 12.7 x 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund, 37.2785PA. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Collection
Collection
Culture
Title
Rattle of a Man Wearing a Bird Mask
Date
500–850
Period
Pre-Spanish
Medium
Ceramic
Classification
Dimensions
7 1/4 x 5 x 3 1/4 in. (18.4 x 12.7 x 8.3 cm)
Credit Line
Frank Sherman Benson Fund and the Henry L. Batterman Fund
Accession Number
37.2785PA
Frequent Art Questions
Tell about these.
These Mayan figurines are hollow and represent men wearing elaborate headdresses in various animal forms, such as a jaguar. These kinds of adornments represent high social status. Additionally, like the whistle you sent before they have musical elements.The man with jaguar headdress is a whistle and the man wearing the bird mask is a rattle. These were common funerary items on Jaina Island in Mexico and likely served a ritual purpose.
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