02 ANCIENT ART (IK THK I'KOVINfK OK CHIRK^UI. 



pciiilciit ly ;i perfect utensil, ami that in all probability the tripod was 

 a feature acquired late in the progress of Chiriquian culture, as a re- 

 sult of some change in the surroundings of the people or in the uses 

 to which the vessel was devoted. Annular bases and tripods woiild 

 be of little use until level floors of unyielding material came into 

 vogue. 



I)('C(ir(iti(>ii.—ln decoration the pottri'v of this ]irnviiice exhibits 

 many remarkable features. The woi'k icsciiililcs sdinrwhat clusely. 

 in a uumlier of its features, that of certain districts lying to the north 

 and to the south, but at the same time it is possessed of very decided 

 individuality. From an examination of the designs I conclude that 

 they rcpvcsriit a [in-iiMl of eiiltui-e cdusiderably inferior to that of 

 some iimi'c niMtlii'iii srctinns. altli(>UL;li the wai'e itself is nowhere 

 surpassed in grace of form anil delicacy of finish. 



The ornamentation is pretty evenly divided between plastic and flat 

 forms. The former include relieved features and intaglio features, 

 which are executed in the plastic clay, and the latter comprise figures in 

 color, penciled or painted \ipon the surface. Each style of work 

 embodies its own peculiar class of conceptions. Relief work is generall y 

 realistic or grotesque; incised work is almost exclusively geometric, 

 and embraces combinations of lines usually recognized as archaic. 

 An occasional example is easily recognized as imitative. Painted 

 figures are both geometric and imitative, the two forms blending im- 

 perceptibly. 



The more important plastic decorations consist of animal forms 

 modeled in the round. Vei;iial)le foi-ms have not been employed. 

 Fillets of clay imitating twisted cords are sparingly used in the dec- 

 oration of necks and handles, and rows and groups of small nodes 

 are similarly employed. The human figure is always treated in a 

 conventional and usxially in a groles([ue manner. The animals imi- 

 tated include a very large nuniKer of species. Crocodiles, pumas, 

 armadillos, monkeys, crabs, lizards, scorpions, frogs, and fish a^^i^ear 

 very frequently. Many of the animals, owing to conventional treat- 

 ment or to carelessness on the part of the modeler, are difficult of 

 identification. These plastic forms occur in nearly all the groups of 

 ware, and similar forms are found to a limited extent in gold, cop- 

 per, and stone, as will be seen by reference to the illustrations already 

 given. Their study will, I believe, give some insight into the mental 

 characteristics of the Chiriquians. That their art, so far as these 

 figures are concerned, was not serious is indicated by the sketchy, 

 unsystematic nature of the work, and more especially by the gro- 

 tesque and occasionally amusing representation of men and animals. 



The ligui-es are usually placed upon the shoulder of the vessel or 

 are attaclie.l to ih,- l.-s and handles or form part of them. The 

 favorite subjects are doleful little tigures, human or partly so. fixed 

 upon the vessel in a sitting posture, with legs and arms doubled iip, 



