98 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



Oaxaca. The latter include a series of ceremonial vases elaborately 

 embellished with figures of Tlaloc and other mythologic personages. 

 A small collection, including both ancient and modern wares, was made 

 in the vicinity of Guadalajara, by Dr. E. Palmer. The ancient pieces 

 ai^e of types corresponding closely to those of Tula and the valley of 

 Mexico. 



Important additions were made to our already rich collections from 

 the province of Chiriqui, Colombia. The field-work was done by Mr. 

 J. A. McNiel, and the specimens were acquired by the Museum through 

 purchase and through donation, about 50 tine pieces having been pre- 

 sented to the Museum by Mr. J. B. Stearns, of Short Hills, K. J. 



The work of classifying and arranging continued steadily during the 

 year, and such progress was made that in June the hall was opened to 

 the public, a small space only being reserved for the reception and 

 classification of new collections. Careful attention has been given to 

 the placing of the material with a view of avoiding confusion and of 

 making the classification of the ware apparent at a glance. The great 

 wall case is entirely filled with the modern wares of the American In- 

 dians, the greater part of the space being devoted to the wares of the 

 pueblo Indians. Beginning at the right, on entering the hall, the two 

 first sections are occupied by the polished black pottery of the Rio 

 Grande pueblos. Following this ware in order are the various products 

 of the pueblos in the Kio Grande Valley, most notable among which are 

 the artistic vases of Acoma. Beyond this, occupying part of the north 

 and all of the west sides of the hall, are the striking products of the 

 pueblo of Zuni, and on the south are the rich-colored wares of Moki. 

 The modern products are confined exclusively to the wall case. The 

 central case contains about 500 pieces of ancient pueblo ware, chrono- 

 logically arranged; beginning with the most archaic forms on the lower 

 shelves, ascent is made through the three succeeding groups to the earlier 

 historic forms at the top. The remainder of the floor space is occupied 

 by about twenty ebony cases, in which are placed small selected series of 

 antique vases from Peru, Panama, Central America, Mexico, and the 

 mounds of the Mississippi Valley. Behind the wall case, and extending 

 the entire length, is a space fitted up with shelves, in which duplicates 

 and fragmentary pottery are stored. 



The curator has been occupied during the year in preparing a paper 

 on the remarkable collections from the i>roviuce of Chiriqui. The in- 

 troductory pages are devoted to the geography, j)eoples, cemeteries, and 

 to other general topics. The various objects of art are discussed under 

 the three heads — stone, metal, and clay. The body of the work is given 

 to a detailed study of the ceramic art. Especial attention is given to the 

 decorative system of the Isthmian peoples, and the final chapter is de- 

 voted to a study of life forms in vase painting. 



The study of this group of art products led to an investigation of the 

 influence of textile decoration upon the ornamentation of pottery, and 



