162 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
Mexico, such as Tula, Teotihuacan, and Atzcapotzalco, 
but fresco pottery which resembles it at first glance is 
more characteristic. It appears that the clotsonné 
process was taken over from the embellishment of 
gourd dishes in connection with which it still exists 
over a large part of Mexico and Central America 
(Michoacan to Guatemala). 
Fig. 56. Vessel with “Cloisonné’ Decoration in Heavy 
Pigments. ‘This example comes from a mound at Atzca- 
potzalco and apparently dates from late Toltecan times. 
Another process taken over from gourd decoration 
is that of negative painting. This likewise still exists 
as regards gourd dishes although discontinued as re- 
gards pottery. Negative painting appears to be an 
ancient process of exceedingly wide distribution. It 
is especially common in Jalisco and Michoacan, the 
Valley of Toluca, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and 
Colombia, and sometimes occurs in Yucatan and Peru. 
The process was to paint the design in wax or some 
