ONCE COSTLIEST OF WARES vessels of odoriferous clay so rare only collector Collect om could afford one vessels of odoriferous clay were imported early in the si sixteenth century from frem peru chile and mexico by the portuguese merchants mer chants to aich vi ere cre given the name of buc caros so highly aa as this ware esteemed that only the wealthiest collectors could afford to pos possess entire specimens broken pieces w acre ere set in gold or silver or ground to to be used to scent cakes and confections and to perfume gloves and al I 1 it t was also supposed to possess medicinal properties and was vas prescribed by contemporary physicians for certain ailments the great demand for the buccaro bucca roq resulted in the alleged discovery of scented claya clays in portugal and the potters of the time used them to fashion all orts corts of drinking g vessels on they ley imbres imp resmi ed a beal or hence the adoption of the name terra ngi llata