[Illustration: XLIX HISPANO-MORESQUE _TINAJA_] Owing doubtless to their plain, domestic purpose and their trifling market cost, early _tinajas_ are not often met with. A fine example in excellent preservation is at South Kensington, and is described by Riaño as "a wine jar, amphora-shaped, and ornamented with an incised pattern of vine leaves, and stamped diaper of a Gothic character." Several good _tinajas_ have been discovered of late years at Seville. Gestoso mentions six, five of which are glazed. The first of these was found in 1893, and has a bright green glaze upon a ground of reddish earth. Both handles and nearly all the neck are wanting. The decoration consists of various bands or _fajas_ round the body of the jar, a series of archways, another of leaves, and a central band of stars, three deep, strongly imprinted from a mould. In every ninth arch are stamped symbolic hands, such as we see upon the Gate of Justice of the Alhambra. The second _tinaja_ is similar to the one just mentioned, except that it has the neck. It was discovered in 1895, and is now in Seville museum. The third _tinaja_ is also in this museum, and was discovered in 1901. It is in a very poor condition, and Gestoso believes that it was originally covered with a honey-coloured glaze. The fourth _tinaja_ was found in a drain, in the same year as the preceding one, and is inscribed with words, including _Blessing_ and _Felicity_, in Cufic characters. Gestoso is unable to decide whether this vessel was made at Seville or elsewhere. The fifth _tinaja_ is in the collection of Don José Morón, and possesses greater interest than the others, both because it is in excellent condition, and also because the decoration is entirely in the Spanish-Christian style, without a trace of Saracenic ornament. Small Gothic-looking shields surround the body of this vessel, which is stamped with pomegranates, and with the arms and emblems of the Ponce de León and other families. Between each pair of shields is an oval-shaped medallion containing human figures. The sixth _tinaja_ is unglazed. It was found in June of 1893, and is adorned with repetitions of the words _Prosperity_ and _Blessing_, as well as with a series of deer and other animals in the act of running; some of them with birds upon their backs. These designs are very uncommon, and Gestoso has seen no other _tinaja_, proceeding from this region, similarly decorated. _Tinajas_ are still made in large quantities at Toboso, Lucena, Colmenar de Oreja, and other Spanish towns and villages.