Amate

One of the skills I work on developing in junior lawyers in my office is admitting ignorance.  Ir is often a horrible mistake in litigation not to admit (and cure) ignorance as early as possible.  Professionals are not terribly good at admitting they do not know the facts, and lawyers are in that crew.  Our cases (we only do litigation) involve learning other people's businesses.  To do that, you have to admit you know nothing, (and often pretend to know nothing when you know a little).  Asking has its rewards.  Which is an introduction to a post over at Marginal Revolution about amate painters.  (You should also look at this.  Courtesy of Mr. Cowen.)  So, what is amate painting?  Looking at the images, I thought it might be a technique or a cultural grouping.  Nope, it is the surface.  Amate painting is done on amate bark.  Which many other people would know, but being ignorant I asked.  Thank you sir.