This artifact is a wonderful piece of artistry. The gourd shaped vessel rest gently upon a base that is painted in a pattern of squares that encompass small black circles. The artist's skill and craftsmanship have created a masterpiece in the rendering of its beautifully painted designs. Tribal patterns and colorful motifs create a incredible work of art that depicts the environment and surroundings of the Costa Ricans. The most prominent feature is the animal in the shape of a buzzard breaking out of the mold of the vessel. The buzzard's head is crowned with upraised feathers. The eyes are rendered with stylized ornamentation. They are inlaid within two white disks that have a repetitious pattern of swirls. The beak is pronounced and is partially opened. On the backside of this vessel the buzzard's tail is projecting of the surface in a three dimensional fashion. It is raised upward and painted in red and white strips. The use of red, white and brownish paint highlight the details and characteristics of this buzzard to make it a true to life rendering of a familiar bird of the Costa Ricans. The Costa Ricans used the flora and fauna of their environment as the subject matter for the art they produced. The images of certain animals symbolized different powers. This zoomorphic effigy vessel was most probably used for domestic and ritualistic activities.