Dated to the late classic period of the Mayan civilization, lateral-ridge bowls such as this represented one of the most favored forms of Mayan painted ceramics, the shape of these vessels created two surfaces for decoration, the outer wall of the bowl and its gradually rounded interior. The band like top half of the outer was is decorated with row of pseudo-glyphic shapes, delimited at the top and bottom by contrasting lines of color. However the main area for artistic expression is at the center of the bowl, which usually depicts a single central motif, oftentimes a human head, an animal, or a mythological creature. The zoomorphic figure at the center of this bowl bears resemblance to a jaguar, though its dotted serpentine curves suggest underworld water symbolism.