Polychrome bowl. Guanacaste-Nicoya, Costa Rica, c. 1200–1500 CE.

Polychrome bowl. Guanacaste-Nicoya, Costa Rica, c. 1200–1500 CE.
Polychrome terracotta.
Condition: good, with slight chips on the rim.
Provenance: private collection of Herman Bronkhorst, Amstelveen, Netherlands; acquired between the 1970s and 1980s.
Accompanied by Oxford Test No. 281j46.
Measurements: 12 cm high; 16.5 cm in diameter.

Polychrome bowl belonging to the Guanacaste-Nicoya ceramic tradition, developed in northwestern Costa Rica and culturally linked to the Mesoamerican region. The piece features a globular body, an open rim, and decoration painted in horizontal bands, alternating between cream, orange, and black tones.

Guanacaste-Nicoya pottery is notable for its rich ornamentation, meticulous surface finish, and the use of geometric and symbolic motifs arranged in registers. In this example, the central band with a wavy motif creates a continuous visual rhythm around the vessel, while the upper section combines orange fields and dark bands that reinforce the decorative structure.

This type of bowl may have served domestic, ceremonial, or funerary functions within a material culture where ceramics played a prominent role as a vehicle for identity, exchange, and prestige. The simplicity of the form contrasts with the graphic force of the decoration, creating a balanced piece with a striking visual presence.