Mayan Marble Cylindrical Vase with Jaguar Handles

The carved surface of this marble vessel has been finely polished to a smooth finish. Tall and cylindrical in form, the body of the vessel has been decorated by a pattern of spiraling waves carved in low relief. A band of stylized overlapping snake scales frames the top and bottom of this motif. Rendered in high relief, a pair of recumbent jaguars emerge from opposite sides of the body just below the rim. In the center of the sea of spiraling waves, there is a human head. The face bears features inherited from Olmec art, specifically the down turned mouth and fleshy cheeks. A wide stripped hat crowns the head.

Felines are among the most potent symbols of Pre-Columbian mythology. Jaguars have long been associated with the ruling elite due to their fierce dominance of the jungle environment. Fierce and snarling, with clearly defined fangs, the jaguars on this vessel appear ready to pounce. These beasts emit strength and power befitting of a king.

This gorgeous vessel clearly played a central role in ceremonial functions. The skilled execution of the carving, the iconography of the composition, and the form of the vessel all suggest that it once contained a ritual substance integral to the religious festivities. Might it have once held a sacred hallucinogenic potion to be drunk by a shaman? Might it have once held the blood of a sacrificial victim to be consumed by the king or high priest, in order to gain its life-force? Clearly this vessel was treasured as much by the Mayans in its own time as it is by us now. Today, void of any ceremonial significance, this work is a stunning example of the beauty of Mayan art.