82 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



The textile arts of the ancient Mayas can be recovered 

 in part from a study of the monuments since the designs 

 on many garments are reproduced in delicate relief. 

 The designs are mostly all-over geometric patterns, 

 but borders reproducing the typical " celestial band/' 

 a line of astronomical symbols, are also seen. The 

 techniques of brocade and lace were understood by the 

 ancient weavers. In the minor textile art of basketry 

 the products must also have ranked high; a typical 

 basket pictured on a lintel is given in Fig. 24. 



Pig. 24. Mayan Basket represented in Stone Sculpture. 



Jade and other semi-precious stones were carved by 

 the Mayas into beautiful and fantastic shapes. There 

 was a considerable use of mosaic veneer on masks and 

 other ceremonial objects. Metal was probably unknown 

 during the first centuries of Mayan florescence, later it 

 was rare and could not be used for tools, but the working 

 of gold and copper in the manufacture of ornaments was 

 on a high plane. 



Having now passed in brief review the objective side 

 of Mayan remains, let us turn our attention to the sub- 

 jective. 



The Serpent in Mayan Art. Mayan art is 

 strange and unintelligible at first sight, but after care- 

 ful study many wonderful qualities appear in it. In 

 the knowledge of foreshortening and composition, the 



