Blackware pottery vessel signed 'Felipa Potosme (not authenticated)'

This is a low-profile, squat earthenware pottery vessel featuring a polished blackware finish with intricately incised sgraffito decorations. The body is rounded and bulbous with a narrow, upright collar rim, showing a tan or terracotta-colored unglazed interior visible inside the mouth. The exterior showcases a deeply etched design depicting various natural elements including a turtle, fish, large leaves, and cross-hatched geometric patterns, where the incised lines reveal the lighter clay beneath the dark surface. There is a handwritten signature on the shoulder that reads verbatim 'Felipa Potosme' alongside additional faded text reading 'Pura Vida'. The vessel exhibits a glossy, dark reflective surface with minor highlights from lighting and appears to be in generally well-preserved condition with no major structural cracks or repairs immediately apparent from this angle. The attribution in the name rests directly on the legible handwritten signature visible on the shoulder of the piece, though the item itself remains unauthenticated. The style and technique are consistent with traditional Central American, specifically Nicaraguan, black-on-black etched pottery crafts, often associated with regions like San Juan de Oriente.

Based on what I can see in the photograph, this low-profile blackware pottery vessel features a polished finish with intricately incised sgraffito natural elements and geometric patterns. The piece bears a handwritten signature reading 'Felipa Potosme' alongside the text 'Pura Vida' on the shoulder, which suggests a style consistent with traditional Nicaraguan pottery crafts from regions such as San Juan de Oriente. However, I cannot verify from a photo whether the signature is contemporary, period-correct, or applied by the named artisan, as visible markings can sometimes be replicated. I would need physical inspection to confirm the clay composition, firing technique, and exact age of the vessel. Assuming the attribution to Felipa Potosme is correct, similar decorative Central American blackware vessels typically command a modest collector market range of $150 to $300, depending on condition and intricate detail. Condition appears well-preserved with no major structural cracks immediately apparent, which supports the higher end of this range. If the item turns out to be a modern reproduction, a tourist replica, or simply made 'in the style of' without a direct connection to the artist, the value would significantly decrease to the $40 to $80 range, resting purely on its decorative merits rather than authorship. To confirm authenticity and solidify any higher valuation, a physical examination by a specialist in Latin American folk art, provenance documentation, and careful analysis of the handwriting and technique would be required.