Tolima stylized breast plates are among the most iconic artworks of ancient Colombia. However, we know very little about what they might represent and how they were used. They display a four-legged being with a human-like face, and many have a long, bifurcated tail and a pair of protrusions on the head—elements that are both reminiscent of insects or crustaceans. These figures depict hybrid beings that could represent spiritual processes of transformation.
  
In contrast to the iconic Tolima breast plates, ceramics from this same region and time period are not well studied. We also do not know what the relationship between ceramics and metalworks was, however, as we can see from this large piece, the jar has eyes and wears a nose ring, making it, too, a sentient being.