Evening star., 1941-10-26
attn American Siluef Makes Excellent Showing
Exhibit Includes
Pieces Antedatine
Incas and AZtecs
Ry Leila MechIin

The arts and crafts of Latin
America have been engagingly
brought to the attention Of Wash
ingtonians during the past year
through series of exhibitions held
In the Pan-American Union Build
ing, none of which, however, has
been quite so comprehensive nor so
outstanding as that of silver which
opened the middle of this month to
continue until November IS.
This exhibition, comprising 302
pieces of many kinds. and ranging
from the days antedating both the
Incas and the Aztecs to the present
time. was assembled by Mrs. Hugh
Allison Greenwood. who lived for
many years in Latin America and
has made an exhaustive study OF
the subject. 1t is composed OF
loans from a few discriminating col
lectors, for the most part WASH
ingtonians, among whom are Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, Eileen
Gorgas Wrightson. H. Perry Mac
eoWan. Mrs. Eugene de Reeves, Nine.
Roberta Cordova, Mr.. and Mrs.
Maurice Thatcher and others, In
Guiding Mrs. Greenwood herself.
Contributions also have come from
the American Union and the
Daniel Stapleton Collection. The
ARRANGEMENT is excellent, the pieces
being displayed in wall cases in the
north corridor. with a few pieces OF
colorful textiles. woven or embroid-
cred, to lend effect.
Fine Craftsmanship.
In this arrangement chronology
ical order has been maintained as
far as possible. First come exam
ples of the work of SilverSmithS OF
the very early era. singularly we'll
wrought and with what would seem
to be exceptionally fine craftsman
ship. Some of these pieces are of
animals, conventionalized and some
what similar to those modelled in
clay by our Southwestern Indians.
The pref Columbian sculpture which
has been found in Peru and Ecua-
dor in recent years by distinguished
lao oAlAlCoO VAN ocAAA>
classical simplicity which may be
observed in the metal work now on
view-a fact which lends increased
interest to the supposition that In
some way contact had existed be-
tween these countries and the East
ern world or that all genius is akin.
The simplicity of the designs used
and the restraint in the matter of
ornamentation give indication Of re-
finement of taste which Is very i'm
pressive.
In the early 18th century European
contacts were made, as all will re-
call, through invasion and conquest.
Cortez and Pizarro started their
voyages of discovery and conquest
less than a quarter of a century
after Columbus, landing on San Sal
vador, became the discoverer of
America. After their conquests
large part of Mexico, as well as Of
Central and South America, was
under the rule of Spain. 1t is no
wonder, then, that the arts and
crafts of Latin America have a
strong Spanish accent. Prior to the
revolutions of the early 10th CEN
tury which freed Mexico and Peru
of Spanish domination, the silver
smiths field was much expanded.
Silver and gold were plentiful; there
was great demand for such wares
as both articles of utility and orna-
ment. The history of these times
is full of romance and adventure
which. today, is reflected in the
art which has become Indigenous
AS the blood Of the Incas and the
Aztecs was mingled to some extent
with that of their conquerors, so
the art of these people gave founda-
ton to that superimposed by the
invaders who became lifetime resi-
dents. Although stern and
naughty people, the Spanish always
loved color and richness in orna-
mentation. The flavor of such pre-
dilection still gives distinction to
Latin American art.
Handsomely Designed.
In the current exhibition, 1t Is
seen in metal covers with pattern
cut out made for a Bible or other
great book. Also in a panel for
an altar frontal rendered in re-
pousse. A small chest of solid
silver, handsomely designed and
wrought, also is shown. But side
by side with these pieces are others
cups, plates, spoons, etc-as sim
pie in shape and workmanship as
any from the hands of our own
early American silversmiths.
The large platters and medium
sized plates are especially good in
design and finish and very similar
to those made in England and her
North American colonies in the
18th century, as we'll as today, in
Sheffield plate and in pewter. The
rims of these plates are decora-
lively shaped in suchWiSe as to
give them variety and are finished
with a heavily indented line. In
some instances, the deep dishes are
melon shaped, with ornamental
overlaid edges, and stand on four
feet.
One of the most exquisite pieces
shown is a mate cup and slippers
of the 18th century, lent by Mr.
and Mrs. Bliss. The beautifully
shaped cup rests on the heads OF
slender herons and is charming In
both finish and color, neither over
polished nor excessively decorated
OF singular interest is a BARRIERS
basin of silver with half-moon, tt
ft the neck, indented on two op-
posite sides. Such basins are known
in South America as Don Quixote's
helmet the legend being that, wher
moved to undertake his first expe-
dition for the good of suffering
mankind, he snatched basin o1
this sort and, turning it upside
down, pressed it on his head as q
hat and voyaged forth.
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