Mayan Pottery Whistle Figure

Pre-Columbian Era, Maya Culture, Late Classic period c. 600–850 AD, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya Territories 

A fascinating and evocative terracotta whistle figure depicting a female effigy, modelled in the round and left unpainted. The figure is rendered with deliberate simplicity in the body, while the head receives the greatest emphasis and expressive impact. The woman is shown from the waist up, her exposed breasts reflecting Maya aesthetic conventions rather than erotic intent, and a thick band encircles her waist.

The head conveys maturity and character, with subtle wrinkles visible across the forehead. Her face presents a striking and animated visage, featuring coffee-bean–shaped eyes, a relatively naturalistic nose, and slightly parted lips. The facial planes are skilfully contoured and crowned with a headdress, while her large ear spools—powerful indicators of wealth and high social standing—are balanced by the softly curving form of her coiffure. She wears a heavy necklace suspended with five circular ornaments, further emphasising her elite status.

The casual positioning of her arms, one of which was broken in antiquity, combined with her relaxed expression, suggests a moment of enjoyment—perhaps observing a ceremony or participating in a festive gathering. The whistle’s mouthpiece is discreetly incorporated into the right arm, with an additional sound hole at the rear, allowing the figure to function fully as a musical instrument.

Maya whistles and ocarinas were produced in a wide variety of forms, yet they frequently depict elegantly adorned individuals who appear to belong to the upper strata of society. Such instruments played an important role in ritual ceremonies, contributing to complex soundscapes alongside drums, wooden trumpets, rattles, and other whistles.

This charming whistle offers a rare dual experience: not only does it present an intimate portrayal of a Maya woman dressed in her finery, but it also preserves the ability to produce sound—its delicate tone resonating like a voice carried across centuries. An evocative and highly collectible artifact of Maya ritual life and artistic expression.

Good condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, with chips, nicks and abrasion, with fading to some finer features, and light encrustations within recessed areas. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 10,1cm x 6,5cm x 4,6cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection