Page:The American Indian.djvu/133

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DESIGN AREAS
91

native Mexican weaving are clear[1] and also the general resemblance to Peruvian styles previously noted (Fig. 45).

When we turn to the pottery of this region, even less survives among the living peoples so that any study of the ceramic art also becomes essentially archæological. However, the

Fig. 45. Mexican Textile Designs. The costumed figure is from a Prehistoric Maya Drawing (Spinden, 1913. I.), but the other sketches represent the work of modern Huichol Indians (Lumholtz, 1904. I.), in Northern Mexico


ceramic collections in our museums are not extensively embellished with painted designs. In contrast to the pottery of the Pueblo area they are plain, modeling in relief and realistic painting here taking the place of mere design. In the Panama area, including Costa Rica and the Chiriqui district, we have a complex of alligator and armadillo designs, recalling again Peruvian and some modern Mexican textile decorations.[2] In a few instances the Maya were particularly successful with

  1. Lumholtz, 1904. I.
  2. Holmes, 1888. II; MacCurdy, 1911. I.