142

Symbolism

jaw is readily recognized in fig. 131 a. Behind the mouth, the eye
represented by a number of circles, will be seen. The body continues
along the lower rim towards the right and terminates on the left, in
a rattle. The analogy between fig. b and a is easily recognized;
the essential difference consists in the fact that the body in b is
undecorated; the rattle lies just
over and behind the eye.
Figure c still preserves the
same form, but added to the
decorations found in the pre-
ceding specimens, is the long
loop with small circles sur-
rounding the eye. The position
in d is slightly changed; the
eye will be easily recognized
and just to the right of it, more
upright than in the preceding
specimens, is the mouth with
a fang. The body is in the
same position as before, fol-
lowing the rim of the disk and
ending in a rattle. In e the
mouth is very much shortened
and the eye is reduced to a
single small circle, while the
body and tail retain their
characteristic features.
The formal elements which were discussed in the beginning of this
book exert a farreaching influence upon decorative forms. The
exigencies of symmetry within a decorative field require adjustments
which may modify the representative form considerably. A peculiar
effect of inverted symmetry may be seen in those Borneo shields in
which the whole shield represents the face of a demon; one half to the
left of the vertical middle line right side up, the other half upside down.1
1 A. R. Hein, Die bildende Kiinste bei den Dayaks of Borneo, figs. 48, 49, 51.


Fig. 131. Shell with representation
of rattle snake.