A hand-carved stone ceremonials bowl featuring high relief snakes across the sides. The vessel’s body has a rounded but stable base, the curved walls come up to a think rim and shallow basin. The 2 snakes with sinuous bodies encircle the exterior, tail tips on one side and their heads positioned on the opposite side. In the Pre-Columbian world, animals were highly symbolic beings and serpents were metaphors for rain and blood, two life-giving fluids. At the same time, they were viewed as creatures that portend great danger. Their ability to shed their skin each year, and thus rejuvenate themselves, also made them symbolic of health and renewal. Snakes were integral to spirituality and such a richly decorated bowl may have served a ritualistic purpose rather than utilitarian. Size: 6.25″ Diameter x 2.75″ H.
