Beautiful Oxcarts of Costa Rica

With a visit to Costa Rica you will find one of the most unlikely sources of amazing artwork: an oxcart. Up until the end of the 19th century oxcarts were widely used throughout the country to transport coffee beans. While they are rarely seen in use today, they are now seen as a common item decorated with liquid glazes all throughout the country.

These wooden oxcarts are internationally recognized symbol of Costa Rica. Back in the day when the oxcarts were at their peak usage, over 10,000 of them could be seen traversing the countryside. Before the Atlantic Railroad was completed, the carts were hauled on long journeys that could take up to 15 days. The oxcart had evolved over time to help adapt to changing weather conditions throughout the year. During the rainy season the Costa Ricans had to develop a better wheel that could manage the muddy terrain without becoming stuck.

The wheels of these oxcarts measure four or five feet in diameter and seemed to be a canvas in dire need of some ceramic paint. When a cart maker's wife decided to brighten up her husband's cart wheels with a starburst design painted with bright colors, the idea soon caught on. Before long oxcarts were being painted with flowers, pointed stars, faces, landscapes and any other sort of geometric pattern the artists could manage on this unique piece of art. These oxcarts have such a traditional appearance in Costa Rica that annual contests are held to reward the most creative artists. Even though farmers no longer use their oxcarts for actual work around their farms, they are still considered to be their pride and joy. With tractors and trucks making light of the work that oxcarts used to handle, the beautiful oxcarts are now only seen as decorative. There is one city that has managed to keep the craft of making oxcarts alive. One of their reproduction oxcarts painted with ceramic colors can cost up to $5,000.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica and are interested in learning more about this beautiful art, you can visit the Ox-cart Museum. Located in southern San Jose, the Museum boasts a collection of hand-painted oxcarts in an adobe house. When you are out and about in Costa Rica you will most likely see many of these oxcarts on display as you walk around the cities. These oxcarts might be an unlikely source of beautiful art, but the Costa Ricans are quite proud of their hardworking background.