Global Silhouettes Mayan Tetrapod Bowl

This eye-catching bowl’s striking shape references a ceramic tetrapod vessel (1st–4th-century) in The Met collection. Its spherical feet are identified with the Maya lowlands of Mexico and Guatemala in the early centuries A.D.; this extraordinary example was crafted by a skilled Maya artisan in Guatemala. Such wide-mouthed bowls or plates are believed to have been used for presentation or serving, and this particular piece was revered as a precious object upon its creation.