Vessel in the Shape of a Figure in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 2018

Vessel in the Shape of a Figure

Date: A.D. 500–800

Geography: Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province

Culture: Guanacaste-Nicoya

Medium: Ceramic

Dimensions: H. 9 5/8 × W. 8 3/8 × D. 7 7/8 in. (24.4 × 21.3 × 20 cm)

Classification: Ceramics-Vessels

Credit Line: Colección Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, San José (14505)

This vessel is a rare representation of an individual wearing gold disks. The disks—shown in low relief as concentric rings emulating repoussé (raised relief) details—decorate the chest, both sides of the shoulders, the knees, and the rear hips. The figure’s body is also decorated with black and red paint and images of curled-snout crocodilians.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/722315