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Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Rattle
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
© Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami. All rights reserved.

Rattle

Artist/Maker (Costa Rica)
Dateca. 1-800
Mediumpottery
DimensionsOverall: 3 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. (8.3 x 3.2 cm)
ClassificationsMusical Instruments
Credit LineCollection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Terms
    Object number85.0004
    DescriptionMusic and song were remarkably important in the ritual and daily lives of ancient Mesoamericans. Painted vessels show that small musical instruments like rattles and gourds were used in nearly all ceremonies, and their ubiquitous presence suggests that such items were relatively common within the population. Rattles shaped like gourds or squashes may have been ritual items used in ceremonies related to agriculture or fertility. With its simple style and lack of decoration, this particular piece may have been a child’s toy or a commoner’s version of a ritual instrument. Squashes were one of the first domesticates of Mesoamerica and provided a rich source of reliable calories for millennia.
    On View
    Not on view
    Collections
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
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    eMuseum
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