NO. 8 DESIGNS ON MIMBRES POTTERY FEWKES IQ 



Figure 97 shows two effigy jars from the Minilires Valley which 

 are instructive as indicating the geographical distribution of this 

 form. In the Casas Grandes pottery, where these effigy jars are 

 much more numerous and complicated, we have a very large relative 

 number of similar forms, some of which have been modified into 

 human figures. In the Mimbres, on the contrary, objects of this kind 

 are quite rare. The designs on the two here figured strictly belong 

 to the Mimbres group. 



In figure 98 we have still another of these effigy jars, which, how- 

 ever, differs from those spoken of above in that a handle is absent. 

 The form of these jars suggests a conventionalized bird, the con- 

 ventionalized designs on the body representing wings ; the eyes and 

 mouth are rudely indicated by circles. The remaining designs on figure _ 

 99 are representations of a mountain sheep, and on figure 100, what 

 appears to be a composite animal having a tail of a bird and the limbs, 

 thorax, body, and head of an insect. 



The last figure (fig. loi) represents four rude undecorated vases 

 belonging to the coiled variety of pottery, evidently cooking vessels, 

 one of which has a handle. This type of pottery, found throughout 

 the Mimbres Valley, recalls the archaic types recorded from the 

 pueblo region but is crude in comparison with them. It resembles 

 somewhat prepuebloan types from northern New Mexico and 

 Colorado, but the fine corrugated and coiled ware of the North is 

 thinner and shows greater technique and variety than that either of 

 the Mimbres or Casas Grandes in Chihuahua. 



Geometric decorations are generally arranged on bowls either in 

 two or four ; sometimes in three, but very rarely five and higher num- 

 bers. When the unit design is doubled the two units are placed diamet- 

 rically opposite on the bowl. Decoration is always absent on the 

 exteriors of the food bowls. It will be noticed in a consideration of 

 dual designs in the series that the repetition of the same unit is painted 

 freehand ; no pattern or stamp was used and the unit pattern when 

 repeated varies somewhat in execution. Evidently the potter held 

 the object in her hand and painted by the eye, arranging the figures 

 in such a way that the spaces might be filled by the pictures. A modi- 

 fication of the shape of the figure to conform with the area to be 

 covered was not uncommon. The lines are sometimes so fine that we 

 can hardly suppose the chewed end of a yucca stick was used as a 

 brush as is generally the case among the Hopi. 



