Ave!

Ancient Maya Vessel Leg, c.11th-13th Cent CE

Terra-cotta, 9cm, six venting holes in two rows of three, monkey face at the bottom of the leg. (trust me, it's there)

This is one of three legs that was on a Maya food-serving vessel. From the curvature of the break at the top of the leg, this would have been a large and flatish item, perhaps 60cm or more.

This is one of three such legs that my mother found one hot day in the the riuns of Coba, Yucatan. She and Sheri were too hot, so I left them in the shade next to the path to further explore the ruins. When I returned after an hour or so, my mother was probing into the dirt next to the trail with a car key and pulling out terra-cotta pottery. "Look what I found!"

From the Vada M Sandes Collection