Pre-Columbian Phallus These votive phalli, of which many have been found and are on display at the national museums, was most likely part of fertility rites, or shrines of the cultures of the Gran Nicoya archeological region of present-day Guanacaste. Size: 7″ tall Artist: Juany AD 500 – 1200
Quetzalcoatl Figure This most unique pottery effigy figure (northern Guanacaste/Rivas, Nicaragua) is an iteration of the Mesoamerican deity, the ‘feathered serpent’, Quetzalcoatl – the venerated bringer of civilization to the Mesoamericans. This figure pertains to the Gran Nicoya archeological area (northwestern Pacific coast of present-day Costa Rica) and was a recurring motif in the pottery … Continue reading "Pottery Figure 0006"
Crocodile Incense Burner This Pre-Columbian ‘effigy’ incense burner, ultimately depicting the essence of crocodile. The venerated mythic crocodile – this is a very stylized version of this resident reptile. This piece is a typical example of many zoological effigy incensarios found in relative abundance in and around the Gran Nicoya archeological region which covers all of … Continue reading "Pottery Figure 0005"
‘Cargador’ Figure From the Guanacaste-Nicoya region in northwestern Costa Rica, a popular cargador (porter) figure carrying a load in the typical fashion: large work basket with a tump-line over one’s forehead. This is a pottery piece reflecting daily life in these pre-European societies – goods overland were transported exactly like this all up and down … Continue reading "Pottery Figure 0004"
Pair of Tripod Pots (Atlantic Watershed) Gran Nicoya Archeological Region: this pottery warrior figure is of an earlier period – before the arrival of the migrations of Mesoamerican peoples from the north – is dated from between the years 350 – 500 CE. This effigy figure depicts an armed warrior with body markings (scratched into … Continue reading "Pottery Figure 0008"
Armadillo Pottery Vessel This later-era tripod armadillo pottery vessel pertains to the later cultures of the Pacific coastal reagions of the Guanacaste region of today’s Costa Rica. Creatively composed, this is a whimsical ceremonial object created as a homage to this mammal from this region. Pre-Columbian Pottery 14″ x 16″ (36 x 41 cm) AD 1200 – European contact
Lidded Effigy Incense Burner Gran Nicoya Archeological Region. This remarkable and complex lidded effigy incense burner consists of two mythic beings within its design: a double headed jaguar based and a stylized, dragon-like, crocodile adorning the top lid. The ‘bumps’ covering much of the surface of this piece is an allusion to the bumpy skin … Continue reading "Pottery Vessel Figure 0003"
Elegant Polychrome Pottery Pertaining to Costa Rica’s Gran Nicoya archeological region, this graceful vase in a polished polychrome finish, features motifs typical of Pre-Colombian pottery of Costa Rica – the Mesoamerican reverence for Quetzalcoatl, the sacred feathered serpent, as well as ancient geometrics taken directly from the Chorotegas’ ancestors’ famed pottery. The figure itself, inherent in this … Continue reading "Handmade Pottery CH05"
Indian Pottery Handmade Indian pottery with natural mineral slips. This tatooed kneeling warrior figure from the Pre-Hispanic culture of the Chorotega’s descendants, is a reproduction of a well known pottery figure found in the National Museum of Costa Rica’s permanent collection. Tribe: Chorotega Location: Guanacaste, Costa Rica Size: 6 1/4″ x 6 1/2 (16 cm x 17 cm)
Lidded Insence Burner This earlier piece from the Gran Nicoya arquelogical region – a lidded insence burner featuring a stylized mythical feline figure adorning the top of the lid and mammalian-form tripod feet – is a typical two part incensario of which many were excavated in this area of northwestern Costa Rica and due to … Continue reading "Pottery Vessel 0012"
Mesoamerican Baroque Gran Nicoya Cultural Region – ‘Late Period’ : 1200 CE – European contact Typical of later Nicoya pieces, this vase exemplifies Mesoamerican ‘baroque’ – such unexpected design finesse and tendency for complex, almost overly-wrought design-work. All space is exploited to the maximum and figures are so stylized as to be rendered practically un-identifiable. … Continue reading "Pottery Vessel 0014"
Monkey Theme Pottery Vessel This later-era pot is from Costa Rica’s Gran Nicoya Archeological area of the present day Guanacaste region.The aesthetic and colour tones of such poly-chrome pots from this time period are notable for their ever-increasing finesse, vibrant tones, perfection of form and design sophistocation. This piece is certainly no exception. The figure … Continue reading "Pottery Vessel 0001"
Interior Design Ideas Galería Namu of Costa Rica invites interior design professionals and firms working in the interior decor field to peruse our website or visit our downtown store for interior design ideas and purchasing. The exceptional collections we have amassed lend themselves perfectly to decorating private residences, businesses and commercial spaces. From tribal masks … Continue reading "Interior Design"
Getting Gold Treasure ~ Little did the revered artists living on the Southern Pacific side of what is known today as Costa Rica realize that they were creating the very thing that their conquerors were seeking – Gold Treasure! The infamous Fernando (Hernán) Cortés commented, “We Spaniards know a sickness of the heart that … Continue reading "Gold Desire"
Costa Rica’s Women of Past ~ It is always an interesting exercise to examine the role of women in society through various epochs in history, for how women are treated in a society says a lot about a culture. Going back over a thousand years to lower Central and Meso-America one can extrapolate to some … Continue reading "Female Power in Pre-Hispanic Costa Rica"
