Three-legged, round-bottomed jug with a deep rim. The object has a concave wall and a projecting rim. The three beak-shaped legs have narrow openings and rattle beads. The ceramic was smoothed, slurried and primed on both sides. The outside is painted. The primer and paint are partially eroded. The object has a white-yellowish base colour, which was painted red, orange and black-brown on the outside of the vessel. Below the rim there is a raised red band running around the rim. On the body there is a shoulder-standing, circumferential frieze, which is divided into four fields. They show two opposing, geometric and bimorph motifs. The latter depict a feathered creature with a tail and monkey attributes. It appears in an unusual perspective. Irregular traces of white-yellowish primer appear on the inside of the object. The wall is decorated with two upright red bands running around it. According to Bransford 1881: Sta. Helena ware. According to Bransford 1881: Sta. Helena ware. According to Lothrop 1926: Nicoya polychrome ware. Cultural significance: the objects of the Papagayo Policromo group represent 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 supra-regional trade goods. (Künne 2004)