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Clay vessel (fragmentary)

Fragmentary, conical vessel with a slightly recessed wall and hollow base. The object has been smoothed and polished on both sides. Its exterior is primed, painted and lightly polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. The vessel has several fractures and flaking. Half of the body is fragmented. The pottery has a white-yellowish base colour, which was painted red, orange and black-brown on the outside of the vessel. On the body there are three upright, circumferential friezes showing interlocking stepped elements and feathered snakes. The motif bands are bordered by horizontal, black-brown lines. The central parts of the body are decorated with two surrounding red bands. A red-orange frieze runs along the base, showing concentric circles and short, horizontal bands. The interior of the object remains undecorated. According to Lothrop 1926: highland polychrome ware, plumed serpent, type A. Cultural significance: the Papagayo Policromo type marks the beginning of polychrome painting on a white-yellowish ground in the Gran Nicoya region. The tradition lasted until the Policromo Tardío (1350-1520d.C.). Their decoration shows a strong Mesoamerican influence. This manifested itself in the replacement of lizard and bat themes with depictions of cats of prey and snakes. The ceramics served as supra-regional trade goods. (Künne 2004)

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Object type
Clay vessel (fragmentary)
Dimensions
Wandstärke: 7 cm
Height: 19,9 cm
Depth: 12 cm
Width: 13 cm
Diameter: 9 cm
Material/Technique
Sound
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 45737

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    when
    Policromo Medio (800 - 1350)
    where
    Costa Rica
    Guanacaste
    Santa Cruz
    Santa Bárbara
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    American Archaeology

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
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