ceramic art

Dark red and brown butterflies soar across a field of warm, earthy orange on this ceramic decorative vase handcrafted by Chorotega pottery artisan Harry García of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The butterflies are bordered by decorative bands of deep red and brown with a lively etched motif, topped by a solid band of dark brown around the rim.

Chorotega pottery is completely handmade with traditional techniques passed down through the generations for 3,000 years, and one of the last surviving cultural elements of the Chorotega people indigenous to Costa Rica's Guanacaste region and Nicoya Peninsula. Chorotega pottery is made from local clay mixed with a very fine freshwater sand. The artisans shape the clay on hand-operated pottery wheels and hand-polish the art piece to give it a smooth texture and luster. Designs are etched by hand and the pieces are painted with natural pigments made from pulverized local colored rocks mixed with water, then fired in traditional wood-burning brick kilns. The result is a beautiful, earthen pottery unique to this region.

This ceramic decorative vessel is handcrafted by Chorotega pottery artisan Harry García of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The small, round vessel is a warm orange with bands of dark brown and red featuring linear and geometric motifs. The vessel stands on three ceramic triangular feet.

Chorotega pottery is completely handmade with traditional techniques passed down through the generations for 3,000 years, and one of the last surviving cultural elements of the Chorotega people indigenous to Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region and Nicoya Peninsula. Chorotega pottery is made from local clay mixed with a very fine freshwater sand. The artisans shape the clay on hand-operated pottery wheels and hand-polish the art piece to give it a smooth texture and luster. Designs are etched by hand and the pieces are painted with natural pigments made from pulverized local colored rocks mixed with water, then fired in traditional wood-burning brick kilns. The result is a beautiful, earthen pottery unique to this region.

This ceramic decorative vase is handcrafted by Chorotega pottery artisan Harry García of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The round vase is hand-painted with bands of dark brown featuring a variety of linear and geometric motifs whose etching lets the natural ceramic sand color show through.

Chorotega pottery is completely handmade with traditional techniques passed down through the generations for 3,000 years, and one of the last surviving cultural elements of the Chorotega people indigenous to Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region and Nicoya Peninsula. Chorotega pottery is made from local clay mixed with a very fine freshwater sand. The artisans shape the clay on hand-operated pottery wheels and hand-polish the art piece to give it a smooth texture and luster. Designs are etched by hand and the pieces are painted with natural pigments made from pulverized local colored rocks mixed with water, then fired in traditional wood-burning brick kilns. The result is a beautiful, earthen pottery unique to this region.

This ceramic decorative vase is handcrafted by Chorotega pottery artisan Harry García of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The round vase is hand-painted a deep brown featuring a variety of linear and geometric motifs whose etching lets the natural ceramic sand color show through.

Chorotega pottery is completely handmade with traditional techniques passed down through the generations for 3,000 years, and one of the last surviving cultural elements of the Chorotega people indigenous to Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region and Nicoya Peninsula. Chorotega pottery is made from local clay mixed with a very fine freshwater sand. The artisans shape the clay on hand-operated pottery wheels and hand-polish the art piece to give it a smooth texture and luster. Designs are etched by hand and the pieces are painted with natural pigments made from pulverized local colored rocks mixed with water, then fired in traditional wood-burning brick kilns. The result is a beautiful, earthen pottery unique to this region.

The stunning colors of this decorative vase are achieved by pulverizing rocks to obtain natural pigments that are mixed with water and then set on the vase with the help of traditional wood-burning brick kilns. Costa Rica's Nury Marchena masters the ancient Chorotega pottery technique and crafts a lovely ceramic vase featuring abstract motifs as well as a pair of toucans perching on a tree branch.

Designed by Arlen Estrada, this sculpture from Nicaragua will add a historic touch to your home. Estrada handcrafts the sculpture of earth-tone ceramic to depict a man holding on to a pipe. On his back, he wears a jar.

A man sits quietly as he speaks, his elaborate jewelry indicating an elevated rank in the community. Handcrafted of ceramic, this handsome sculpture by Arlen Estrada pays tribute to Nicaragua's pre-Hispanic past.

This ceramic decorative vase is handcrafted by Chorotega pottery artisan Harry García of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. The small, round vase is a warm orange with bands of dark brown and red featuring linear and geometric motifs.

Chorotega pottery is completely handmade with traditional techniques passed down through the generations for 3,000 years, and one of the last surviving cultural elements of the Chorotega people indigenous to Costa Rica’s Guanacaste region and Nicoya Peninsula. Chorotega pottery is made from local clay mixed with a very fine freshwater sand. The artisans shape the clay on hand-operated pottery wheels and hand-polish the art piece to give it a smooth texture and luster. Designs are etched by hand and the pieces are painted with natural pigments made from pulverized local colored rocks mixed with water, then fired in traditional wood-burning brick kilns. The result is a beautiful, earthen pottery unique to this region.

Inspired by ancient Mayan culture, El Salvador's Oscar Rodolfo Mendoza creates this small mask which is crafted from ceramic and painted by hand with natural pigments derived from the achiote plant. The Mayan king wears face paint, a feathery headdress, and round earrings.

Crafted from ceramic and painted by hand with red and brown pigments derived from the achiote plant, this small mask signifies the sacrifices performed by the ancient Mayans. El Salvador's Oscar Rodolfo Mendoza creates this mask, which depicts a face with striped paint and a spotted hat.