Vessel Fragment in the Form of a Feline Head Possibly 600 - 1000

Editor: Here we have what’s left of a ceramic feline head, dated somewhere between 600 and 1000 CE. It was part of a vessel and is attributed to the Tiwanaku culture. I find its blunt expression almost humorous, but there's also a real sense of mystery given it’s only a fragment. What strikes you about it? Curator: You know, fragments often whisper louder than whole stories, don’t they? The Tiwanaku people were incredible. Think of this little feline head not just as decoration but perhaps a potent symbol, maybe a guardian or an ancestor, something that gave real power to that original vessel. Imagine holding that pot, feeling its weight and the weight of its meaning... I wonder, what kind of liquid did it once hold, what rituals did it partake in? Editor: A guardian spirit in ceramic form… that’s intriguing. It gives it so much more presence. Now that you point it out, I'm curious to see what it once guarded. Curator: Exactly! And ceramic, well, that's just Earth, isn't it? Shaped by human hands, fired in heat. A humble material made profound through intention and artistry. Those stylized features—those strangely squared-off ears—they speak to a very particular way of seeing the world. Editor: I can feel its humbleness by imagining the material but never considered the intent to elevate. Thank you for bringing to light a different lens. Curator: It's funny; spending time with old objects always makes me question my own place in this grand unfolding story. You know?