Page:Appleton's Guide to Mexico.djvu/149

Rh town and country, and also of the national dress, may be purchased in all the large cities.

jewelry has justly acquired a world-wide fame. When the Spaniards invaded the country, they acknowledged that the gold and silver-smiths of the Aztec Empire excelled those of their own land.

The precious metals were used in casting vessels, some of which were said to have been so large that a man could not encircle them with his arms.

Gems like opal, turquoise or chalcliihuitl, ruby, agate, heliotrope, and chalcedony, were mounted in gold; and artistic filigree- work in both gold and silver was made extensively.

According to the accounts of the early Spanish chroniclers, the ornaments worn by Montezuma must have been equal in elegance to many of the crown-jewels of the imperial families of Europe.

At the present day the traveler will not meet with any large specimens of silver-ware, excepting the exquisite service of Maximilian, which is on exhibition in the museum at the national capital.

The modern jewelers confine themselves principally to the manufacture of watches, chains, necklaces, brooches, pins, buttons, and other articles for personal adornment. The filigree-work in silver is worn extensively, but that of gold is seldom used.

Chapetas, or silver studs for hats, are made in large quantities. They are in the form of stirrups, revolvers, ropes, horse-heads, bull-heads, spurs, and other figures. These chapetas are fastened on either side of the crown