In our era of radical abstraction in art, we tend to think of any abstract work as being a product of pure imagination. For artists and sculptors of Ancient Costa Rica highly stylized forms were conceived and interpreted as symbolic/ ritual attributes, and not simply as an aesthetic expression. This wonderful vessel can be seen in the light of an iconographic object with complex religious meaning, as well as something very unique and beautiful. The crocodile motif appears quite frequently in the early period of Costa Rican art, and probably represents a cult image. The stylized elements are nonetheless realistic and very dramatic. Alternating squares in relief running along the middle imitates the crocodile scutes. The lower portion, including the legs, is ornamented with incised lines in a checkerboard pattern; effectively giving the impression of tough hide. The mouth is wide open and the teeth are extremely prominent and menacing. The most significant attribute is the series of small skulls extending just under the rim. They are very graphic and powerful, appearing as if they are staring from the other world with their deep, penetrating eyes. This strongly suggests a cult related to the dead, and the vessel itself was probably made as part of funerary furniture for an elite individual. There is a strong elemental feeling about this vessel; something which touches a primal chord in our psyche and connects us with a distant past through a powerful object which has few equals. HT.10cm(4IN): L.23cm(9IN)