230 



A STUDY OF CIIIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



Another favorite alligator motive is that derived from the dorsal view and 

 frequently employed as a panel decoration. The rows of spines and scales on 

 the back of the alligator are represented by a number of parallel lines, the outer 



Fig. 381. — Dorsal-view (alligator) motives from vases of the lost color ware. 



ones alone bearing spine, scale, or scale-group symbols, and these only along 

 their outer margins. This motive is common not only to the alligator ware but 

 is also frequently met with in the lost color group, where its appear- 

 ance is somewhat altered on account of the lost color technique. 

 A comparison of figures 381 and 383 discloses these differences 

 at a glance. Figure 382 is taken from a tripod vase of the white 

 line group and differs from the same motive in both the alligator 

 and lost color groups. That the profile motive also undergoes changes 

 when passing from the alligator group to the polychrome group, is 

 evident from a comparison of figure 384 with figure 224. 



The ancient potter of Chiriqui was master of the brush in three 

 distinct systems of painting: (1) The usual method of producing a 

 figure or pattern by the direct application of one or more deline- 

 ating colors — red, black, white, and in one variety of ware, an ad- 

 ditional color, purple ; (2) the lost color process, which was confined 

 to a single rather large group of ware. It consisted of tracing the design in wax 

 on the ground color, the application of a solid coat of black over the area to 

 be ornamented, and immersing the vessel in hot water which melted the wax, 



Fig. 382.— Dor- 

 sal-view mo- 

 tive as seen on 

 the white line 

 ware. 



« 



Fig. 383. — Dorsal-view motives from vases of the alligator ware. 



removing with it the black from the design and thus leaving the latter in the 

 color of the original ground ; (3) Sparing the figure out of the ground, which was 

 seldom employed, occurring only in the alligator, and the kindred polychrome 

 group. The few examples of this technique evince much skill and ingenuity. 



