TYPE EXAMPLES IN" THE NATIONAL COLLECTION 85 



Nose modelings in anthropomorphic figurines range from a 

 simple bulbous excrescence to the straight and rather prominent 

 type of nose, where the nostril pits are excavated in a more realistic 

 manner than is usually seen in Tainan clay figurines. A unique 

 form of nose modeling has a triangular excavation underneath the 

 nasal eminence. The entire figure assumes an owlish cast because 

 of the series of concentric ridges and grooves. The mouth and lips 

 are represented by two parallel transverse or horizontal ridges 

 divided by a sharply defined incised depression. Teeth are repre- 

 sented by a set of five vertical ridges alternating with a correspond- 

 ing number of depressions, the whole surrounded with an incised 

 groove. 



A unique representation of a manatee appears with one flipper 

 emerging from underneath the head of the figure. Nothing more 

 is presented. This omission of nonessentials is a method of artistry 

 typical of several groups of aboriginal Indians. The tribes of the 

 Pacific Northwest coast practice the same technic in their wood carv- 

 ing when representing their totemic animal crests. 



Generally it is impossible to recognize the species of zoomorphic 

 figurines modeled in clay by the aboriginal potters of Santo Domingo. 

 It is occasionally possible, however, to identify a figurine as the 

 representation of one of the various groups of life forms, as mam- 

 mal, bird, fish, sea or land mammal, or as anthropomorphic; more 

 definite identifications are almost always untrustworthy because of 

 the conventionalized technic of the artist. Undoubtedly some of the 

 figurine heads are intended to represent zemis or personal totems 

 belonging to an individual, family, or clan. Some of the figurine 

 heads which resemble animal forms are conventionalized presenta- 

 tions of the human head, and, conversely, the realism of design 

 bespeaks an old and deeply rooted culture, not necessarily a high 

 culture, but one thriving throughout a long period in isolation. 

 Realism in decorative design, then, often assumes no particular 

 significance, but is simply presented and without ceremonial im- 

 portance. Our lack of appreciation of mammalian forms as they 

 exist in Santo Domingo often leads us to pronounce as a grotesque 

 modeling that which actually is a faithful realistic representation. 



Modeling of life forms. — The aboriginal Santo Domingan art of 

 modeling in clay various life forms, such as the human head and 

 animal forms, is rarely freed from culinary or cult pottery forms. 

 Medallion-like reliefs of the human face occur more in the Lesser 

 Antilles than in the islands of Porto Rico and Santo Domingo. 

 Decorations are effected bj=^ modeling and incising, rarely by painted 

 signs. Incised designs of geometric appearance placed in encircling 

 bands do not disclose a zoomorphic origin as in Florida and other 

 of the southeastern United States, except for the lateral incised 



