EVOLUTION IN ORNAMENT. 



273 



the repetition of the same monotonous song, which produces on civil- 

 ized ears only increasing torture. The fret is at first drawn with all 

 its unity running in the same direction, but in course of time it is 

 found that a change of direction not only relieves the eye but gives 

 greater pleasure, and the series comes to be broken up into bars, alter- 

 nating in direction. This is observable not only in the classic Greek 

 frets, but also in similar ornaments in America. In the intervals be- 

 tween the bars a square figure is often introduced, and this, both in 

 Greek and South- American art, sometimes contains a cross or a quat- 

 refoil. Similar breaks were often introduced into the scroll-border, in 

 which case the bars were separated by a figure, shaped more or less 

 like a cross-section of a biconcave lens, Fig. 15, A. 



Fig. 15. 



Fig. 16. 



WM^r 



A 



In Old- World decorative art the great step was taken when the 

 sigmoids were separated and alternately reversed, as in Fig. 16. This 

 gave an opportunity for the growth between the sigmoids, of accessory 

 ornaments that developed into an infinitude of beautiful forms in 

 Egyptian and Greek art. It will be observed that, in this series, the 

 little volutions, Fig. 16, A, A, A, are turned alternately up and down. 

 The accessory ornament corresponding to Fig. 15, A, has therefore a 

 broad base upon which to expand on one side and a narrow one on 

 the other. These accessory ornaments may be developed on both 

 sides of the line of sigmoids, but in this case a double series is formed, 

 and a single one is more effective. 1 In Greek art they were princi- 

 pally cultivated on the upper side, giving rise to a single series of 

 alternately broad and narrow figures supported on a line of sigmoids, 

 as in Fig. 17. I would therefore claim that the upright, so-called 



Fig. 17. 



1 This border is more effective when used horizontally. Vertical ornamented series 

 are very often bilateral, and much wider than horizontal borders. Where a fret or honey- 

 suckle border runs completely round the side of a room, we shall find that the horizontal 

 parts give more pleasure to the eye. 

 vol. vi. 18 



