File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14597425500).jpg

Identifier: mythsofmexicoper01spen (find matches)
Title: The myths of Mexico and Peru
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Spence, Lewis, 1874-1955
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indian mythology Indians of Mexico Indians of South America Indian mythology Indians of South America
Publisher: New York, T. Y. Crowell company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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and feathers wereadded to the garments made from these, the combina-tion producing a gay effect much admired by theSpaniards. The British Museum possesses some goodspecimens of these manufactures. Pottery The Peruvians excelled in the potters art. Thepottery was baked in a kiln, and was varied in colour,red, black, and grey being the favourite shades. Itwas varnished outside, and the vases were moulded intwo pieces and joined before heating. Much of thework is of great grace and elegance, and the shapes ofanimals were very skilfully imitated. Many drinking-cups of elegant design have been discovered, and somevases are of considerable size, measuring over three feetin height. A simple geometric pattern is usually em-ployed for decoration, but sometimes rows of birds andinsects figure in the ceramics. The pottery of the coastpeople is more rich and varied than that of the Inca raceproper, and among its types we find vases moulded inthe form of human faces, many of them exhibiting so280
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I. Vase of painted terra-cotta in form of a seated figure, with busts on each side 2. Three black terra-cotta vases Photo Mansell & Co. 280 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INCAN PERUVIANSmuch character that we are forced to conclude that theyare veritable portraits. Fine stone dishes are often found,as well as platters of wood, and these frequently bear asornament tasteful carvings representing serpents. Onseveral cups and vases are painted representations ofbattles between the Inca forces and the savages of theeastern forests using bows and arrows ; below wander theanimals of the forest region, a brightly painted group. The Archaeological Museum of Madrid gives arepresentation of very varied kinds of Peruvianpottery, including some specimens modelled upon aseries of plants, interesting to botanists. The Louvrecollections have one or two interesting examples ofearthenware, as well as the Ethnographical Museum ofSt. Petersburg, and in all these collections there are typeswhich are believed to

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