Though Costa Rican ceramic artists enjoyed
depicting armadillos in their work, few examples
exist as beautiful as this one. The exquisite
harmony of the elongated body and the stout
legs creates a perfect balance of form and
geometric arrangement. The head is particularly
elegant, with the armor plating done in a
checkerboard pattern curving gracefully on the
nose. Broad red and white lines around the legs
and lower portion give the impression of
movement and the tactile sense of softness. This
effect is very cleverly counterbalanced by the use
of a tight checkerboard pattern on the neck, and
bands of triangles over the body to represent the
armadillo's hard, scaly armor. Every inch of this
vessel shows expert skill, attention to detail and
an artist's love of his or her art. L. 41.2(16 1/2IN)
- (PF.4865)
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