590      POTT/ERY AND       PORCELAIN.
brown, and black.
On one side is a
representation of a
bull-fight; o n t he
reverse a figure
scene, the s i g n i fi-
cance of which is
not apparent. This
vase stands eigh-
teen inches in
height and is purely
Mexican in concep-
tion throughout
(Ill. 325).
325.-LARGE MAJOLICA VASE.  POLYCHROME  At a little later
DECORATION. MADE IN PUEBLA, MEXICO, ABOUT
s78o-isoo. PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM.  date other tints were
added to the majolist's palette, such as mauve and purplish
rose. These beautiful colors are found on several exam-
ples of the ware in the Pennsylvania Museum.
About the middle of the eighteenth century the decad-
ence set in and the art began rapidly to decline. About
the middle of the nineteenth century it had reached its
lowest ebb. The golden age of the art appears to have
been from about 1650 to 1750.
At the present time Serior Enrique L. Ventosa, of
Puebla, is engaged in decorating the most artistic ware
which is now being made in Mexico, having since 19oo
been endeavoring to elevate the standard of an art which,
after having flourished for over two hundred years, had
fallen into decay. This artist has recently been reviving