A remarkable Mayan effigy vessel, of a type well-known from Mayan sites. Effigy vessels were a central part of Mayan culture, with some scholars arguing that effigy vessels may have been temporary containers for the souls of the deceased. The face is the place from which the vital force of the breath emerges, the host for our eyes through which we perceive the world. The importance of the face was well-understood among the Mesoamericans, who produced masks in phenomenal quantities. This little vessel is perfectly formed. From a round body, with two loop handles (one broken) we arrive at the neck of the vessel, which bears thick slightly-open lips, gentle almond-shaped eyes, and a straight stern nose. The rim is variegated, such that it mimics spiked hair.