Simple elegance lends this vessel a timeless beauty. Its warm iridescent glaze--the color of bronze or alloyed gold--perhaps imitates more costly metal wares. Filled with an offering of food or drink, it was placed in a tomb during the height of the Mayan empire. Though the civilization that created it has vanished, the appeal this vase makes to the senses is still strong, transcending all boundaries of time and place. As we hold it in our hands today, we share with that ancient culture an appreciation for its bold lines and rich color.