Pre-Columbian | Jaguar Effigy Vessel | Guanacaste-Nicoya or Northern Peru | Circa 500–1200 CE

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$1,200.00
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  • Pre-Columbian feline effigy rattle vessel with arching handle and painted slip design, Costa Rica, 800–1200 CE
  • Rotating view of Pre-Columbian jaguar-form rattle vessel with painted red and black slip, Nicoya culture, 800–1200 ADv
  • Ancient Costa Rican ceramic jaguar effigy vessel with spotted slip pattern and rounded spout handle
  • Front-facing view of feline effigy rattle bowl showing painted geometric and spotted motifs, Nicoya style
  • Side profile of polychrome feline effigy vessel with arch handle and ochre-black slip pattern, circa 800–1200 A
  • Rear angled view of Costa Rican jaguar-shaped ceremonial vessel showing arch handle and four short legs
  • Ancient Guanacaste-Nicoya feline vessel with painted spotted motif and polished red slip finish
  • Underside view of Pre-Columbian ceramic rattle vessel showing vent aperture and feline form, Nicoya region
Pre-Columbian feline effigy rattle vessel with arching handle and painted slip design, Costa Rica, 800–1200 CE
Rotating view of Pre-Columbian jaguar-form rattle vessel with painted red and black slip, Nicoya culture, 800–1200 ADv
Ancient Costa Rican ceramic jaguar effigy vessel with spotted slip pattern and rounded spout handle
Front-facing view of feline effigy rattle bowl showing painted geometric and spotted motifs, Nicoya style
Side profile of polychrome feline effigy vessel with arch handle and ochre-black slip pattern, circa 800–1200 A
Rear angled view of Costa Rican jaguar-shaped ceremonial vessel showing arch handle and four short legs
Ancient Guanacaste-Nicoya feline vessel with painted spotted motif and polished red slip finish
Underside view of Pre-Columbian ceramic rattle vessel showing vent aperture and feline form, Nicoya region

Pre-Columbian | Jaguar Effigy Vessel | Guanacaste-Nicoya or Northern Peru | Circa 500–1200 CE

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Northwestern Costa Rica or Northern Peru
Material: Hand-painted terracotta with mineral pigments
Period: Circa 500–1200 CE

Description
This remarkable hand-modeled ceramic vessel, shaped in the stylized form of a feline—likely a jaguar, reflects the artistry and spiritual depth of ancient Central and South American civilizations. The vessel features a gracefully arched handle extending from head to rear and is decorated in vibrant red, black, and ochre slip pigments that highlight the creature’s musculature and movement.

The jaguar, a revered symbol of power, transformation, and the bridge between earthly and spiritual realms, is beautifully captured in this effigy. The hollow body includes a vent and spout aperture, indicating its use as a ceremonial whistle or ritual vessel, possibly for rites invoking fertility, transformation, or rain.

Features

- Hand-painted in red, black, and ochre mineral slips

- Stylized jaguar effigy with elegantly arched handle

- Distinct spotted and geometric banded decoration

- Functional vent and spout apertures suggesting ritual use

- Excellent preservation with traces of mineral deposits and age patina

Cultural Significance
In the Guanacaste-Nicoya region of Costa Rica and among early Northern Peruvian coastal cultures, the jaguar symbolized divine strength and the shamanic link between the natural and spiritual worlds. Vessels like this served both ceremonial and funerary purposes, offering spiritual protection and invoking transformation.

Condition
Minor surface wear and pigment fading consistent with age. Small abrasions and mineral accretions present, yet the structure remains stable and the original polychrome coloration remarkably preserved.

Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 6 in
Width: 2.5 in
Height: 4.5 in

Age
Circa 500–1200 CE

Learn More & Explore

Discover a companion piece: Pre-Columbian Terracotta Vessel, 300–800 CE another remarkable ancient ceramic that complements this jaguar effigy in form and function.

Read more about similar artifacts at the Brooklyn Museum explore how ritual ceramics connected everyday life, faith, and transformation in early American civilizations.

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Northwestern Costa Rica or Northern Peru
Material: Hand-painted terracotta with mineral pigments
Period: Circa 500–1200 CE

Description
This remarkable hand-modeled ceramic vessel, shaped in the stylized form of a feline—likely a jaguar, reflects the artistry and spiritual depth of ancient Central and South American civilizations. The vessel features a gracefully arched handle extending from head to rear and is decorated in vibrant red, black, and ochre slip pigments that highlight the creature’s musculature and movement.

The jaguar, a revered symbol of power, transformation, and the bridge between earthly and spiritual realms, is beautifully captured in this effigy. The hollow body includes a vent and spout aperture, indicating its use as a ceremonial whistle or ritual vessel, possibly for rites invoking fertility, transformation, or rain.

Features

- Hand-painted in red, black, and ochre mineral slips

- Stylized jaguar effigy with elegantly arched handle

- Distinct spotted and geometric banded decoration

- Functional vent and spout apertures suggesting ritual use

- Excellent preservation with traces of mineral deposits and age patina

Cultural Significance
In the Guanacaste-Nicoya region of Costa Rica and among early Northern Peruvian coastal cultures, the jaguar symbolized divine strength and the shamanic link between the natural and spiritual worlds. Vessels like this served both ceremonial and funerary purposes, offering spiritual protection and invoking transformation.

Condition
Minor surface wear and pigment fading consistent with age. Small abrasions and mineral accretions present, yet the structure remains stable and the original polychrome coloration remarkably preserved.

Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 6 in
Width: 2.5 in
Height: 4.5 in

Age
Circa 500–1200 CE

Learn More & Explore

Discover a companion piece: Pre-Columbian Terracotta Vessel, 300–800 CE another remarkable ancient ceramic that complements this jaguar effigy in form and function.

Read more about similar artifacts at the Brooklyn Museum explore how ritual ceramics connected everyday life, faith, and transformation in early American civilizations.

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