DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0303
Art of the North Pacific Coast of North America
275
A number of square food trays, bent of a single piece of wood,
are not decorated according to this plan. The face, consisting of two
symmetrical halves, is replaced by a series of profiles (fig. 286); the
short and high sides have the large eye in the left hand upper
corner; the mouth in the lower right hand corner. The design on
the long sides represents the sides of the body. The large eyes
stand, presumably, for the shoulder joint and are placed in the
center of the side; wrist and fingers are in the lower left hand
corner. The significance of the design in the right hand upper
Fig. 286. Painted tray.
corner is not clear. The general distribution of the design elements
is evidently determined by the central position of the large eyes.
The boxes shown in fig. 287 illustrate that still another pattern
is used on square boxes. Each of the four sides of the two boxes
shown in figs. 287a and b, is divided into four rectangles of unequal size.
The general plan of the two designs is almost the same, although
there are considerable differences in detail. It is quite evident that in
287 a the lower part of the first and third sides represents legs
and feet. A distinct wing design appears in the left hand upper
rectangle of the fourth side, but otherwise the arrangement of the
elements is so arbitrary that a safe interpretation is impossible.
It seems plausible that in this case also the attempt at decoration
was much more important than the attempt at interpretation.
An interpretation was given to me for the box shown in fig. 287 b.
Although obtained from Charles Edensaw, one of the best artists
among the Haida, I consider it entirely fanciful. The first side
to the left, corresponds to the third side, which is opposite to
it on the box. The second side corresponds to the fourth side.
Edensaw explained the design as showing four interpretations of the
275
A number of square food trays, bent of a single piece of wood,
are not decorated according to this plan. The face, consisting of two
symmetrical halves, is replaced by a series of profiles (fig. 286); the
short and high sides have the large eye in the left hand upper
corner; the mouth in the lower right hand corner. The design on
the long sides represents the sides of the body. The large eyes
stand, presumably, for the shoulder joint and are placed in the
center of the side; wrist and fingers are in the lower left hand
corner. The significance of the design in the right hand upper
Fig. 286. Painted tray.
corner is not clear. The general distribution of the design elements
is evidently determined by the central position of the large eyes.
The boxes shown in fig. 287 illustrate that still another pattern
is used on square boxes. Each of the four sides of the two boxes
shown in figs. 287a and b, is divided into four rectangles of unequal size.
The general plan of the two designs is almost the same, although
there are considerable differences in detail. It is quite evident that in
287 a the lower part of the first and third sides represents legs
and feet. A distinct wing design appears in the left hand upper
rectangle of the fourth side, but otherwise the arrangement of the
elements is so arbitrary that a safe interpretation is impossible.
It seems plausible that in this case also the attempt at decoration
was much more important than the attempt at interpretation.
An interpretation was given to me for the box shown in fig. 287 b.
Although obtained from Charles Edensaw, one of the best artists
among the Haida, I consider it entirely fanciful. The first side
to the left, corresponds to the third side, which is opposite to
it on the box. The second side corresponds to the fourth side.
Edensaw explained the design as showing four interpretations of the