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ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 



18, 19, is the smallest in size and simplest in form, but is painted in intricate 

 design, especially within. The want of mathematical precision in the form of this 

 and the rather larger bowl, Fig. 20, shows at once the absence of the potter's 

 wheel in their manufacture. The particular marks on these pieces will be 

 noticed later. 



Fig. 21. 



No. 22,365. Bowl of Luna terra-cotta. 



In Fig. 21 is seen a bowl of the average shape, but in ornamentation rather 

 peculiar, the red predominating in broad bands and surfaces in the upper half 

 of the outside, leaving the figures in buff. The cross occurs three times between 

 panels which have no counterpart in the collection. The buff of the inner sur- 

 face is relieved only by a black line at the rim, with a red one a little lower. On 

 the outside just below the panel work is a narrow band, then two more a little 

 lower still. In the interval a succession of figures in fret surround the bowl. 

 This ornament is found on fourteen specimens. The lower line of the band of 



Fig. 22. 



No. 22,314. 



frets is touched by the limbs of the cross, (Fig. 22,) which, with slight variations 

 in detail, occurs on all but four of the bowls. The modifications were usually in 

 the ornamentation of the ends of the limbs, as in a, b, and c. The bowls which fail 

 to have this cross, have the plain buff field on the outside, with only a line or 

 band of lines around the edge, their peculiar designs being within. One of these 

 is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. 



The fret mentioned above is the subject of infinite variation ; even on the 

 same vessel no two forms are exactly alike. Indeed, in ornamenting this terra- 

 cotta the painter seems to have had certain conventional designs in his mind, 

 which he executed without rigid accuracy in detail. 



No. 810. 



