Ceramic artisans living on the Nicoya peninsula of western Costa Rica re-create ancient pottery in the styles of their ancestors, often inspired by the archaeological remains of their past that are all around them.

Potter Carlos Grijalba from the community of San Vicente de Nicoya created the bowl above using the same clays and techniques used by his community for centuries. Carlos, and numerous other potters like him, makes pottery specifically for sale. The archaeological bowl below, made between 500 and 1500 years ago, probably had a ceremonial function.

To artists like Carlos, making pottery represents a celebration of his heritage and an economic resource. For the tourists who visit western Costa Rica, the pottery represents fine art, a memory of their vacation, and a connection to the San Vicente community.

Curator’s pick

We picked these ceramic bowls not only for their beauty, but because together they demonstrate the deep connections many artists maintain with their cultural heritage. The bowls also highlight two key aspects of the Anthropology Department—the Cordry Internship and Research Associate programs.

The Cordry Internship is a unique program that allows a Minnesota college student to live in a community in Mexico or Central America and collect folk art for the Museum’s permanent collection. The intern works closely with Science Museum curators, conservators, and research associates who train them in museum standards and methods, before spending four months immersed in a pre-determined community. The intern’s fieldwork consists of collecting folk art objects, photos, and information about the objects and the people who make them.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has real scientists doing active research behind the scenes. Volunteer Research Associates assist curators in special projects, and work with our permanent collections. For the past 13 years, Research Associate Dr. Jim Weil has conducted ethnographic studies in San Vicente, and assisted with two Cordry Internships.
-Tilly Laskey, Curator of Ethnology and Ed Fleming, Curator of Archaeology