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THBCosta Rican Nicoya Polychrome Bowl - Geometric Motifs
Lot 96a
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$450 - $650
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Nicoya, ca. 800 to 1200 CE. A well-proportioned polychrome pottery bowl from Costa Rica, its rounded body gracefully balanced on a round yet stable base. The vessel's smooth cream slip serves as the canvas for bold geometric and stylized zoomorphic designs, painted in rich red, deep brown, and black mineral pigments. Around the upper register runs a rhythmic frieze of stepped triangles, a motif long associated with architectural and textile patterns in ancient Costa Rican art. Below, the principal band features repeating medallions enclosing abstract avian or serpent-like forms, their curved bodies and stepped elements possibly symbolic of water, fertility, or the cyclical renewal of life. Size: 8" Diameter x 5.5" H (20.3 cm x 14 cm)
The painted decoration is executed with precise brushwork, displaying both symmetry and a keen sense of proportion. Such vessels, produced in the Nicoya-Guanacaste region, were often used in ceremonial or elite domestic contexts, valued not only for their functionality but for their aesthetic and symbolic qualities. The interior retains traces of its original red slip, suggesting it may have held food or drink offerings.
Polychrome bowls of this type are closely related to examples in the collections of the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they are praised for their fusion of form and painted design. This example stands as a testament to the artistry of ancient Costa Rican ceramicists, whose work bridged utility and ritual significance.
Provenance: private Parker, Colorado, USA collection, acquired via Caza Sikes, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in April 2024; ex-collection of Ann M. Meranus, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#196637Expected surface wear with a few nicks in areas, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with good remaining pigment.Condition
- Shipping Info
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