104 



ANCIENT ART 



HK I'KOVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. 



shape are characteristic of the lizard. The vessel is small, plain, and 

 neatly finished. In Fig. 149 the legs of the vessel, otherwise quite 

 jjlain. are surmounted by heads that seem to represent a dog or some 

 like animal. A series of neat vertically placed scrolls formed of 

 round fillets encircles the neck, and below these is a band in rt'lief 

 imitating a twisted curd. 



A \as(' of unusually striking appearance is presented in Fig. 150. 

 It is oui' of the largest tripods in the collection and is characterized 

 by a high widely expanded lip and a long conical body and by legs 

 (if unusual size and conformation. Small animal figures are perched 

 11] II 111 the projecting hijis. The surface of the vessel is rudely finished 

 and is iiiiu-li lilackeiie<l by smoke about the upper part of tlie legs and 

 tlie lindy. 



A unique use of the animal form is illustrated in Fig. l'>\. which 

 shows a large fragment of one of these tripods. The figure of an 



a, embellished with the figure of an alliftatr 



^Mt] 



I _,i eat deal of spirit, is attached to the side of 



i| n the leg and extending uiiwaid (ibli(|uely 



ic uj m the opposite side of ilie saini> vase 



^ the f )rui of a man or boy in its Innnidabje 



mj 1 

 I 1' 



1 in this group 

 ibly a creature 



f ware, is freely used 

 f inijiortance in the 



ti \ SM i 1 1 1 



t th hp \ 1 



i lepKscnt 1 J 



1 okiii^ la^\ 



The illigit 1 1 ueh 

 in otliei gi jup-, m 1 w i i i 1 

 mjth lo^\ )t ChiiKju 



In one case only, so far as 1 have seen, is the human form employed 

 in the supports of these vessels, and in that case, as will be seen in 

 Fig. 15-i. the result is extremely grotesque. The shape of the basin 

 is good and the thick, rounded lip and most of the surface are care- 

 fully polished. A disconnected meander of incised lines encircles 

 the rather high neck, and jiarts of the l)ody and its attached features 



