Boas, Franz: Primitive art (Oslo , Leipzig [u.a.], 1927)

186

Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America

For clear presentation of the principles of this art it seems advantage-
ous to treat the symbolism and the adjustment of the animal form
to the decorative field before taking up the purely formal elements.
Fig. 157 a is a figure from the model of a totem pole, which re-
presents the beaver. Its face is treated somewhat like a human
face, particularly the region around eyes and nose. The position of

a b
Fig. 157. Carvings repres-
enting the beaver from
models of Haida totem
poles carved in slate.




Fig. 158. Carving from handle
of spoon representing beaver,
Tlingit.


Fig. 159. Headdress
representing beaver;
a dragon fly is shown
on the chest of the
beaver, Haida.

the ears, however, indicates an animal head. The two large incisors
serve to identify the rodent par excellence,—the beaver. The tail
is turned up in front of the body. It is ornamented by cross-
hatchings which represent the scales on the beaver’s tail. In its
forepaws it holds a stick. The nose is short and forms a sharp
angle with the forehead. The nostrils are large and indicated by
spirals. The large incisors, the tail with cross-hatchings, the stick,
and the form of the nose are symbols of the beaver and the first
two of these are sufficient characteristics of the animal.