Zoomorphic handmade pottery, (circa 1940-50), from Mexico.

The green glazed unique pottery vessel originated in the Oaxacan town of Santa Maria Aztompa. The Aztompa glazed pottery is usually designed with utilitarian purposes in mind such as cooking and serving, to hold candles and flowers.

This vessel is originally intended as a serving bowl decorated with two pets heads whose legs become aesthetic handles and paws are gentling resting on the edge of the vessel. The holes in the back of the heads served the purpose to insert a wicker handle, which was the correct way to carry the vessel. The top base is engraved with imagery from Oaxaca’s folk culture: a sacred heart with unreadable scribbles, a dove, a sunflower and a long palm branch.