Unearthed Mesoamerican Jaguar Footed Vessel

A deity in its own right, the jaguar plays a major role in Mesoamerican creation myths and epic sagas. Quick, agile, and fierce, the jaguar was a powerful figure. Though its origins remain unknown, this ceramic vessel shaped like the fearsome beast may have been used in shamanic rituals. Shamans looked to the jaguar as a spirit companion, to protect them from evil spirits as they moved between the earthly and spiritual realms. We love how the organic design allows the jaguar to emerge from the vessel, its footed base becoming legs and the handle a curling tail.