Small, three-legged vessel with a domed base, deep rim and concave wall. The three beak-shaped legs have narrow openings and rattle beads. The object has been smoothed, slurried and primed on both sides. Its exterior is painted in polychrome and lightly polished. The primer and paint are partially eroded. There are several fractures on the wall. The pottery has a white-yellowish base colour, which is painted red, orange and black-brown on the outside of the vessel. Below the rim is a surrounding frieze consisting of multicoloured vertical stripes. The wall is decorated with a central, circumferential frieze depicting two feathered serpents. Two red bands run above the border. The three squat legs probably symbolise bird beaks, painted red and black-brown. The base of the legs is marked by a red band running around it. Irregular traces of a white-yellowish primer are visible on the inside of the pottery. Two red bands run below the rim. According to Bransford 1881: Sta. Helena ware. According to Lothrop 1926: Nicoya polychrome ware, plumed serpent, type A. Cultural significance: the Papagayo Policromo type represents 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.). Its 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 international trade goods. (Künne 2004)