Crocodile-form Tripod Bowl

Crocodile-form Tripod Bowl

300 BC-AD 500
Culture
Greater Nicoya
Country
Costa Rica
Style/Tradition
Guinea Incised Guinea Variety
Object
effigy
Medium
Modeled tan clay with orange slip, applique, engraving, and incised decoration.
Accession Number
1993.744
Credit Line
Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer
Crocodile-form Tripod Bowl. 300 BC-AD 500. Modeled tan clay with orange slip, applique, engraving, and incised decoration.. Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer. 1993.744.
Dimensions
height: 5 in, 12.7000 cm; width: 6 3/8 in, 16.1925 cm; depth: 10 1/2 in, 26.6700 cm
Department
Mayer Center, Arts of the Ancient Americas
Collection
Arts of the Ancient Americas

A shallow bowl with a rounded base, medial ridge and in-sloped upper walls serves as  the body of a crocodile. The vessel is supported by three hollow legs (two in front, one in the rear), each of which has two vent slits and contains rattle pellets. The animal's head and tail project from the upper walls.  Both are hollow and have vent slits on the undersides. Applied strips and pellets of clay represent the reptile's paws, joints, facial features and body scutes. Within the mouth are numerous incised teeth, and panels of engraved interlace patterns ornament the bowl's upper walls. ~ M. Young-Sanchez

Known Provenance
(Enrique Vargas-Alfaro) [1915-2008], San Jose, Costa Rica and Atlanta, GA; Purchased by Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver, CO, Feb. 25, 1971 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 1993 [1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, 1992

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