SPURIOUS MEXICAN ANTIQUITIES. 



327 



ters it rec^alls the art of the period of degeneracy iu Aztec art that fol- 

 lowed the conquest, and which is shown to good advantage in some of 

 the codexes published by Kiugsborough. 



Fig. 8. — A large elaborately eni- 

 bellislied whistle-vase in brownish 

 clay. Whole hei<i;ht about 3 feet. 



Fig. 9. — A pitcher-shaped vase in liybt- 

 brownish clay. 



Many of the more recent examples are very poorly constructed and 

 fall to pieces iu handling. As a result it is readily discovered that 

 partially hidden portions of the surface are quite new, being wholly 

 unaffected by time or by the artificial aging given to the exposed parts. 

 This group furnishes many pieces copied from, or rudely imitating, 

 modern European products, such as pitchers, soui)-tureens, etc. — forms 

 not known to the ]n'e-Spanish aborigines. An example owned by the 

 Mexican Museum is illustrated iu Fig. 9. 



A similar piece representing another variety of ware is given farther 

 on. 



Statuettes are inimerous, but are generally rude. So coarse are the 

 more recent ones, and so unlike Aztec art in every essential character, 



