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

248

Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America

also determined by the general principles governing the decoration
of boxes (see p. 263).
The shark which is shown in fig. 261 is found on one end of a
small food tray. I do not need to repeat the description of the
shark’s face, on which the characteristic symbols will be recognized.


Fig. 261. Design from the end Fig. 262. Slate dish with design repre-
of a food tray representing a senting a sculpin, Flaida.
shark, Tlingit.
I have introduced this figure here in order to show that the whole
body of the animal has been omitted with the sole exception of its
pectoral fins, which are carved on the rim of the tray on both sides
of the forehead. Their position is somewhat analogous to the one
found on the totem pole fig. 213 (p. 219).
In figs. 262 and 263 we find the representations of the sculpin
distorted and dissected in the same manner as the sea-monster of
the preceding figures.
In fig. 262 the sculpin has been adapted to a circular slate dish.
The centre of the design is occupied by a rosette, which has