32 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



guilloches. These are confined to the outer more easily visible surfaces, as in 

 nature. The joints and muscles of the legs are worked out in a somewhat con- 

 ventional, though effective fashion. The neck and root of the tail encroach upon 

 the mealing surface of the plate. The muzzle of the jaguar is relatively short 

 and the jaws are wide open, a characteristic feature of all representations of the 

 jaguar, whether in stone, clay, or gold. The border of the plate, as well as the 

 head, legs and tail, are decorated with guilloches. 



The finest and largest Chiriquian metates are grouped together in Plate III. 

 The one reproduced in figure a is particularly graceful and lifelike. The head 

 and neck are beautifully modeled, and the incised patterns on legs and tail are 

 original. The other two are exactly of a height (37 cm). Figure b has the wider 

 plate, being but little longer than broad. Contrary to the general rule, the tail 

 is relatively short and is not carried downward and laterally to unite with one of 



the feet. The largest 

 of all the metates is 

 shown in figure c. It 

 measures 1.17 meters 

 in length by one-half 

 meter in breadth. The 

 legs and tail are plain, 

 but the borders of the 

 plate are incised as is 

 also the forehead. The 

 two rows of teeth and 

 the overlapping of the 

 canines are distinct^ 

 shown. 



There is a small 

 metate in the collec- 

 tion (fig. 29) resembling one from Chircot in the highlands of Costa Rica, figured 

 by Hartman. The plate is nearly round and perfectly flat, with incised borders. 

 There is an animal head at either end. The legs are short, thick and roughly 

 triangular in section. The smallest of the metates is given in figure 30, its length 

 being 16.5 centimeters. The plate is flat and rectangular, the short legs are round 

 in section, the animal head is only roughly blocked out. 



One of the most elaborately carved metates is in the collection (cat. no. 8250) 

 of Mr. George G. Heye of New York. The border, which is not faceted, 

 is divided midway on either side by two raised vertical lines. The angular 

 guilloche pattern on the front half is composed of four intertwining bands, while 

 that on the rear half consists of only two. A similar pattern is carried down the 

 foreleg, while the hindleg is ornamented with a series of squares which re- 

 semble still more closely the ocellated markings of the jaguar. 



Much pains was spent on the muscles and joints of the legs. The toes are 

 indicated and even the pads on the soles of the feet are carefully worked out. 

 The incised design on the top of the head is a marked variation from the usual, 

 the central feature being a rosette ; surrounding this is a series of raised triangles. 



Fig. 29.— Metate with animal head at either end. 'I' 



