The ability of an artist to give life and animation to an inanimate object is always a pleasure to see. Animals, were a favorite subject of Costa Rican artists, particularly in those we see as pottery art. This handsome vessel may have been made for a specific commission or produced as commercial ware. It depicts an indigenous creature, very much like a tapir -a nocturnal animal of South and Central America, brownish-black in color, with a long snout. The tapir is a particularly appealing animal with a gentle nature. The artist has captured this endearing quality beautifully- with its folds of fur, small round ears and inquisitive eyes staring brightly into the night. An object like keeps us in touch with the everyday life of people who lived hundreds of years ago, and the animals, which captured their imagination. HT.14cm(5 1/2IN):L.24cm(9 1/2IN)