SPURIOUS MEXICAN ANTKani'lKS. o21 



tlie matter, but it was not all that .science demanded, and 1 nndertook 

 to examine into the !snl)Je(;t more closely. 



In the lirst place, let me call attention to one of the fundamental prin- 

 ciples of ail <i;ro\vtli — a principle which must be understood by the ar- 

 chicolo^ist who would test the authenticity of unidentilled ivlics of 

 primitive art, and draw the lino between the normal and the abnormal. 

 Every projjcr product of the shaping' arts is intended for some noruial 

 use. In indigenous work, vessels n)ade for use in the domestic arts are 

 suitable to that end ; those made for ceremonial purposes are adapted to 

 that end, and are embellished with symbols suitable to their office. They 

 are in all cases exactly what a natural indi<j;enous jjjrowth makes them. 

 Forms are not interchangeable and embellishments, especially those of 

 an ideographic character, are not used indiscriminately as long as the 

 art is in a normal condition. The Aztec race, and each native race as 

 well, had distinct groui)s of ware devoted to the peculiar ceremonies in 

 which they were employed. As soon as the religious observances were 

 interfered with by the conquerors, the particular function of each class 

 was lost, and in a short time forgotten. The art of vessel-making went 

 on, but under very changed conditions. All symbolic forms and embel- 

 lishments fell into disuse. Indigenes, who still secretly held to their 

 old beliefs, understood symbolic forms, and perhaps understandingly 

 rei)eated them, but with the great mass, vessels ceased to be more than 

 meaningless utensils. Now many of the modern vases which I class as 

 spurious products are remarktiblc in shape, and are profusely bedecked 

 with strange ligures or devices, such as are, in a normal i»rimitiveslate 

 of art, universally and exclusively symbolic; but the modern Aztec of 

 the valley of Mexico does not understand the ancient mythology. Jtis 

 not to be supposed that he attaches any significance whatever to the 

 forms of vases or to the symbolic figures and ornaments of ancient times, 

 and if he reproduces them they can not be more than mere copies. P>ut 

 why should he copy them ? Not for use, for neither vases nor symbols 

 are adai)ted to any use. The simple truth is, that the manufacture is 

 exclusively for trade, and the objects have a market because they are 

 thought by foreigners to be old, or to be copies of the ancient, and for 

 no other reason. 



Antique objects began many years ago to have a value in money and 

 the Aztec potter was equal to the occasion.* JJc has tilled the mu- 

 seums of two contiuents with works which are not legitimate i)ro<lucts 

 of Aztec art. The pottery utilized by his people — the modern Mexi- 

 caus — is a very different affair indeed, as a glance at the water-bottles, 



* l)6sir6 Cliarnay,>lio Iciirncd, tliroiifrli ratlicr unpleasant exporioiico, tint true iiat- 

 nio of tJiis ware, writes as follows in his recent work, Leu AncicniwH Villes dii norcaa 

 vionde, page 36: "The Aibricatiou of these ])ieceB goes back as far as 1820 or 182(5. 

 This grand hoax was conceived in Tlateloco street, and the fortunate inventor must 

 have made his fortune thereby, to judge from the immense number of vases dispersed 

 by liim. Most of the museums are infested by them, to say nothing of jirivato col- 

 lections." 



U. Mis. 170 21 



