Chorotega Vulture Effigy Tripod Vessel

Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Chorotega culture, ca. 800–1200 CE
Polychrome terracotta, height 6 ⅞ in (17.5 cm); width 11 ¼ in (28.5 cm)
Provenance: Ex Roland Auctions, New York; from the Estate of Ronald Blatt (owner of Blatt Billiards, New York City)

Finely modeled vulture effigy vessel featuring two projecting avian heads painted in deep red and black over a cream slip. The rounded body rests on three pointed supports and is encircled by geometric banding of interlocking triangles and linear motifs characteristic of Chorotega ceramic artistry. The vultures—symbols of death, renewal, and celestial transformation—were revered in ancient Costa Rican cosmology as spiritual intermediaries capable of traversing the realms of life and death.

This elegant example represents the height of Nicoya-Chorotega polychrome production during the Late Classic–Postclassic period, balancing sculptural form with intricate surface design.

Condition: All 4 legs restored otherwise intact.