This Costa Rican ceramic fragment, dating between 500–1000 CE, is from a larger figurative vessel or effigy, distinguished by its rattle leg construction. Figures of this type often had hollow, bulbous legs containing small clay pellets, which would produce a sound when moved—turning the vessel into both a visual and auditory object.
The shard preserves part of a modeled leg and what appears to be a horned figure, possibly representing an animal imbued with supernatural qualities. Crafted in reddish clay, such vessels were often painted or slipped in red, black, or cream, and used in ceremonial contexts. They may have held offerings, food, or drink, while their rattling sound added a performative dimension to rituals.
Even as a fragment, this piece carries the energy of its original form—an expressive reminder of Pre-Columbian Costa Rica’s artistry, symbolism, and ritual life.
