File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18156346602).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo04amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
'
Text Appearing After Image:
lines. Circles divided into sections occur also quite frequently. All these forms are executed in a variety of color, which is gener- ally included in the symbolic interpretation of the design. The detailed arrangement of the decorative motives shows some characteristic differences among different tribes. Thus, we find that the Arapaho (Case 20 h) like to arrange their patterns on hide bags in a number of parallel stripes, and that in the painted designs they put on the color in rather small areas. The Sho- shone (Case 26 e), on the other hand, like to arrange the decora- tive field in such a way as to lay out a wide border which cuts out a central field. The designs in these areas are laid on in strongly contrasting colors, without leaving any white background to speak of. Similar differences may be observed in the bead-work of different tribes. Some — for instance, the Comanche (Case 26 d) — prefer to arrange their patterns in delicate narrow bands; while others, like the Sioux, utilize large beaded surfaces. These may be observed on moccasins, bags and pouches, on which white or colored beads form the background, from which the de- signs are set off. It seems, however, that some beaded and painted designs are common to all the tribes of the Great Plains.

Note About Images