In our era of radical abstraction in art, we tend to
think of any abstract work as being a product of
pure imagination. For artists and sculptors of
Ancient Costa Rica highly stylized forms were
conceived and interpreted as symbolic/ ritual
attributes, and not simply as an aesthetic
expression. This wonderful vessel can be seen in
the light of an iconographic object with complex
religious meaning, as well as something very
unique and beautiful. The crocodile motif
appears quite frequently in the early period of
Costa Rican art, and probably represents a cult
image. The stylized elements are nonetheless
realistic and very dramatic. Alternating squares
in relief running along the middle imitates the
crocodile scutes. The lower portion, including
the legs, is ornamented with incised lines in a
checkerboard pattern; effectively giving the
impression of tough hide. The mouth is wide
open and the teeth are extremely prominent and
menacing. The most significant attribute is the
series of small skulls extending just under the
rim. They are very graphic and powerful,
appearing as if they are staring from the other
world with their deep, penetrating eyes. This
strongly suggests a cult related to the dead, and
the vessel itself was probably made as part of
funerary furniture for an elite individual. There is
a strong elemental feeling about this vessel;
something which touches a primal chord in our
psyche and connects us with a distant past
through a powerful object which has few equals.
HT.10cm(4IN): L.23cm(9IN)
- (PF.4362)
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