Abstract yet charming, this unusual statue depicts an aristocratic woman with a small, scampering dog. On one level, it appears to evoke a timeless scene of a lady with her adored pet, who excitedly leaps to lick his mistress' face. It reminds us of English restoration portraits, where ladies of the court were often painted with their lap-dogs. As is often the case with Meso-American art, there may be a deeper religious symbolism, less obvious to the modern eye. The dog might be an emissary to lead the woman to the spirit world, a guardian for eternity. Whatever its original meaning, this appealing piece continues to delight all who see it.