352 



COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 



The localities for Nicaraguaii pottery are as follows : Solentinaine y 

 Alta Gracia, Moyogalpa, Huaeas de Bivas, Costa del Pacifico, Zapatera ? 

 Ometepe. Alta Gracia seems to be the most prolific. 



THE POTTERY OF GUATEMALA. 



It is obvious upon examination of the Guatemalan pottery that the 

 paste varies with the intention of the vessel, so that the potter must 

 have exercised considerable skill in the selection, mixing, and temper 

 ing of clays. It is no doubt the handling of the materials, as well as 



the availability of good clay that 

 have determined the centers of su 

 perior pottery. 



The best ware in Guatemala, 

 which is attributed to the Quiches, 

 evinces care in the selection of the 

 clay. In the grotesques the paste 

 has burned gray, dark brown, and 

 almost black, like those of Mexico. 

 The vases and bowls are of the 

 finest terra cotta, sometimes burn 

 ing to reddish brown with copper 

 hues, as in Xo. 177. In a few pieces 

 the paste contains small white par 

 ticles which are probably ashes or 

 broken shell. The &quot;incense burn 

 ers,* or vessels in which resin has 

 been burned, are of very coarse 

 crucible paste, evidently prepared 

 for resistance to heat. 



The examination of over three 

 hundred pieces of pottery from 

 Guatemala does not bring out 

 whether coiling was practiced or 

 not. The specimens were small, 

 however, and the careful finish ob- 



LTUriieinam. . 



literates traces of coiling. The 



Quiches knew the use of molds and were good modelers. It is appar 

 ent that molds were used in Mexico, Central and South America, thus 

 giving them an extensive range. 



Most of the ware was tooled and burnished ; the natural smooth sur 

 face was left on the &quot; incense burners&quot; and upon stamped vases. No 

 polishing stones were exhibited. A very fine cylindrical stamp of stone, 

 3 inches long, pierced axially and well cut into frets was found in the 

 Province of Quiche. There are a number of evidences on the ware of 

 the application of stamps, some of them of extreme beauty. 



Fin. 33. 



MODERN CARVED JICARA MOUNTED IN A WOODEN 

 REST. 



