HOLMES.] PAINTED WARE. 85 



Before proceeding with tlie descriptions, however, there are some 

 matters of a general natiire that should be referred to. Technical 

 questions have already received considerable attention, and I shall 

 need only to refer here to the painted ornamentation, and at sufficient 

 length to insure a clear understanding of its treatment and the scope 

 of its subject matter. 



Painted vessels are embellished to some extent also by incising and 

 modeling, and these methods are employed very much as in the un- 

 painted pottery already described. 



Painted decoration is executed witli much freedom and in many 

 cases with considerable skill. It is greatly varied in method of treat- 

 ment and embraces a wide range of motives. Geometric patterns 

 occur in great variety, but are found to be of types peculiar to Isth- 

 mian America. The conventional meanders, frets, and scrolls so 

 extensively employed in other regions are here almost unknown. 

 Decorative motives derived from natural forms are abundant and 

 afford an excellent oppoi'tunity to .study the processes of conventional 

 modification. These designs are often applied in a way to indicate 

 that the decorator possessed a keen sense of the requirements of the 

 vessel, although the treatment pei-haps is not as universally satisfac- 

 tory as is the treatnifiit <>( plastic fiiibcllishment. 



The potter, in prcpaiin^ I lie vi^s.I for the decorator, ordinarily 

 finished it with a slip <>r wasli of fine clay, which varied in hue from 

 a gray white to a pale orange. A slip of bright red tint was also ex- 

 tensively used. The more delicate hues formed an excellent ground 

 upon which to work. The slip covered surface was generally pol- 

 ished, often to a high degree, with the usual polishing imi)lements, 

 the marks of which can be seen upon the less carefully finished sur- 

 faces. By observers unacquainted with aboriginal methods this pol- 

 ish is liable to be taken for a glaze, and it has been pronounced a vit- 

 reous glaze by a few writers. It is more noticeable ujion specimens 

 that have been handled a great deal, as is the case with whistles, 

 needlecases, and the like. 



The colors utilized in decoration, so far as they have been preserved, 

 are the ground tints, described above, and the delineating colors, the 

 latter consisting of black, white, red in various hiies, and a dull pur- 

 ple. An additional color (or perhaps a solution without particular 

 color) extensively employed in the designs has totally disappeared. 

 The natui-e of the various colors has not been determined, but it is 

 probable that some were of mineral and others of vegetal origin. 



Red was often employed as a ground color, as stated above, and 

 sometimes covered the whole siirface, but more frequently occiipied 

 zones or panels. In such use it was applied and polished down with 

 the slip. Red was also extensively used in the delineation of decora- 

 tive figures in several of the groups of ware, and is in all cases a per- 

 manent color. The hues vary decidedly with the groups of products, 



