Art, Prehistoric; Folk literature -- History and criticism
In figures 13, 15, 145 _a_ and 146 the rectangles are all placed in the
same direction; the long side parallel to the short side of the hide.
Fig. 145 _a_ consists throughout of curved segments corresponding to the
obtuse triangles. At the apices of these segments the rectangles are
divided by central lines. The fields separating the rectangles bear
each an acute triangle with prolonged apex. In the narrow central field
we find also the acute triangle with extending lines. Fig. 15 consists
of the acute triangle with the usual frame but with scolloped edges
instead of the angular figures of fig. 145 _b_. The central field is
treated in the same way as in fig. 145 _a_. Fig. 13 corresponds nearly
to fig. 145 _a_, except that the rectangular fields are not divided by
a central line, but have a central figure somewhat hour-glass shaped
enclosing an acute triangle at each end. The crosses in the middle
field are also derived from the acute triangles. The three central
fields of the long side of fig. 146 _b_ correspond to fig. 144 _a_.
Since the rectangles in the marginal field on the short side are not
turned, the acute triangle design did not fit and we find, therefore,
instead the cross design. The lack of symmetry between the extreme
upper and lower fields is quite unusual. In fig. 146 _a_ we find, as
in fig. 14, only four fields. The designs are similar in character
to those of fig. 146 _b_, except that the acute triangle design is
developed in a peculiar manner.
[Illustration: Fig. 147. Painted rawhide, Ioway.]
The Ojibwa and Ioway use another method of building up their boxes. The
short sides are made of separate flaps and there is no flap covering
the front. The bottom is not decorated and the hide is folded over
simply in box form and sewed together (fig. 147). The method used by
the Otoe and sometimes by the Ioway, is still different. There is
a short flap covering part of the front; the sides are folded in,
somewhat in the same manner as done by the Fox and there is also a
complete lack of coherence between the design as laid out on the hide
and as it appears in the completed box (fig. 148).
[Illustration: Fig. 148. Painted rawhides; _a_, Ioway; _b_, Otoe.]
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