A popular motif of the ancient world is the animals that shared the land with the various communities. One such animal was the jaguar. On this beautiful red terra-cotta vessel, geometric pattern, which have been painted on, dominate the subject matter of the piece. However, the bowl sits majestically on a doubled headed jaguar that in turn is carefully placed on a circular base. The animated feature of the jaguar with the protruding tongue creates a delicate but profound balance between the bowl and the highly sculptural stand. The original intent of these jaguars may have been to protect the contents of the vessel and in doing so, bring a whole new meaning and function to this piece, which remains a true work of art and ingenuity.