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.
- (PF.2907)
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