mi-: AZTECS 219 



art comprise pottery vessels, ornaments of gold, silver, 

 copper, jade, and other precious materials, textiles, 

 pieces of feather work, etc. 



The best known ceramic products are made of orange 

 colored clay and carry designs in black that sometimes 

 are realistic, but more often not. The tripod dishes 

 with the bottoms roughed by cross scoring were used 

 to grind chili. Heavy bowls with loop handles on the 

 sides and a channel across the bottom were seemingly 

 made to be strung on ropes. They may have held pitch 

 and been used for street lights. The pottery figurines 

 of the Aztecan period are nearly all moulded and lack 

 the sharp detail of the earlier examples. They often 

 represent deities wearing characteristic dress and carry- 

 ing ceremonial objects. 



Comparatively few specimens of ancient gold work 

 in Mexico escaped the cupidity of the Spanish con- 

 querors, but these attest a remarkable proficiency in 

 casting. The moulds were made of clay mixed with 

 ground charcoal and the melting of gold was accom- 

 plished by means of a blow pipe. The technique seen in 

 Costa Rican gold work according to which details 

 falsely appear to be added by soldered wire, was fol- 

 lowed in Mexico. Modern Mexican filigree bears little 

 relation to the ancient Indian work, but is probably of 

 Moorish origin. The examples of Aztecan gold work in- 

 clude finger rings, earrings, nose and lip ornaments, 

 necklaces, and pendants. 



Among the precious and semi-precious stones known 

 to the Aztecs, the most valuable in their eyes was tur- 

 quoise. Tin- was probably obtained by trade from the 

 Pueblo Indians. It was mostly cut into thin plates and 

 used in the manufacture of mosaic objects. Red jasper. 

 green jade, jet, gold, and shell of various colors was also 

 used in these mosaics. Jade was highly prized and was 



