156 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



by the imagination. The design represents the body-line of the alligator (see 

 PI. XL, fig. /; and text-fig. 224), and the concentric rings placed in the center 

 of the dorsal concavity are the body-markings. The multiple motive is thus 

 broken up into its constituent units, each representing a whole alligator. An 

 excellent example of this motive is figured by Holmes. 1 The Yale Museum is 

 particularly fortunate in having examples of it in various stages of its development 

 and showing its connection with the branching scroll. 



The largest vase of the polychrome group and indeed of the entire collection 

 is reproduced in figure 257. In shape it is unique and in modeling, perfect. 

 Beginning with the simple rounded bottom, the walls are carried upward and 



Fig. 257. The largest vase in the collection, unique in form and decorated with alligator motives. 

 Polychrome ware. '/> 



rapidly outward till the greatest diameter is reached at the high and sharply 

 angular shoulder. There is a further flattening at the collar approximating a 

 horizontal plane. From this rises a short neck with angular lip. Rather far out 

 upon the shoulder and on opposite sides are two raised highly conventional animal 

 forms, which also resemble functionless handles. Similar forms occur on one of 

 the polychrome vases belonging to the United States National Museum. 



The red slip of the lower zone and of the aperture differs in tone from the delineat- 

 ing red, and is approximately of the same shade as the paste. The ground color 

 of the upper zone, including collar and neck, is the usual cream slip, on which 

 excepting the collar, appear the delineating colors, black, red and purple. The 



1 Op. cit, fig. 211, 212. 



