Jaguar Clay Planter | Medium

Taught by her mother in the pottery-rich village of Amatenango, Juana Gómez Ramírez made her first clay jaguar at the age of twelve. The jaguar holds deep meaning in Mayan culture, symbolizing power, transformation, and protection. “For our ancestors, the white jaguar represented day, and the black one represented night,” Juana says. “I feel their energy every time I work on their shapes.”

Rooted in ancestral practice, Juana kneads, shapes, and fires each piece entirely by hand, polishing them with river stones and painting them with natural dyes. Her lifelike clay jaguars—symbols of both heritage and spirit—have earned her recognition far beyond Chiapas. Today, she leads a collective of local artisans, preserving the clay traditions of her ancestors while supporting her community. Through every piece, Juana continues to honor the sacred bond between craft, culture, and the untamed soul of the jaguar.