On view
Art of the Ancient Americas
Jaguar effigy vessel,
800–1350
Greater Nicoya (Pataky Polychrome, Pataky variety)
Sapoá Period
y1991-59
Vessels of this style were made in present-day southwest Nicaragua but imported into Costa Rica, where they were prized as funerary objects. The type, known as Pataky Polychrome, typically utilizes a large pear-shaped vessel as its base form, supported by tripod feet that suggest a full-form jaguar. Dense repeating imagery in black slip-paint accented with orange is restricted to the legs, the bib-like shape around the jaguar’s head, and the vessel rim. Holes in the legs and arms allowed for airflow during firing, reducing the chances of breakage. The artist who made this vessel incorporated the irregularly shaped airholes into the painted design.
Information
Title
Jaguar effigy vessel
Dates
800–1350
Medium
Ceramic with white slip and black and orange slip-paint
Dimensions
33.6 × 22.2 × 24.2 cm (13 1/4 × 8 3/4 × 9 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Selma Alexander in memory of her husband, Dr. Julius Alexander
Object Number
y1991-59
Place Made
North America, Costa Rica or Nicaragua
Culture
Type
Materials
Subject
1991, Selma Alexander gifted to the Princeton University Art Museum.
