Very rare Chama Vase! Description: These chama vessels are often described as cacao drinking cups, which is accurate for some examples. However, they served a variety of purposes, including use in rituals and offerings, where they no longer contained cacao but instead held important deposits—sometimes even including parts of the human body. Most ceramics of this kind were ritually sacrificed in order to release the spirit of the object and prevent further use by another person. This vessel was almost certainly sacrificed, as the weathering patterns on the fragments indicate different depositional conditions. The beaker has an appealing size for this type of vessel. The glyphs are particularly impressive, especially in their state of preservation. I would like to briefly focus on the design rather than provide a translation: depicted are trophy heads, clearly identifiable by their closed eyes, mouth shape, and bound hair, by which they were often held or suspended. There is also a stylized serpent head with a large fang, resembling a fluid or “sweeping” creature. Additional glyphs show similarities to place markers such as cenotes or the underworld. Along the upper rim of the beaker runs a red band alternating with white. The background of the vessel is orange, and all colors and decorations are perfectly harmonized, giving the piece a unique visual presence. The condition reflects its age, use, and the described ritual sacrifice, contributing to its authenticity and value. A small missing section has been restored (see images). Overall, the condition is comparable to what is typically found in museum collections—fully authentic and fairly preserved. A TL (thermoluminescence) laboratory test is included as part of the original offering. A beautiful and truly remarkable piece! The beaker is a purely ceramic without influence from footed vessel designs. Furthermore, the form is relatively rare: rather than the more common cylindrical shape, it features a well-balanced proportion between height and diameter, giving it a distinctive standing form. Provenance: Collected in the 1980s in Guatemala by a Private Collector, Bought 2006 from an official Antik Dealer in the USA , Anthropos Gallery Nr. 3 on the invoice