Section II, 1918 [151] Trans. R.S.C. 



Prehistoric Canadian Art as a Source of Distinctive Design. 



By Harlan I. Smith, Archaeologist, Geological Survey, Canada. 



Presented by L. J. Burpee, F. R.S.C. 



(Read May Meeting, 1918) 



After the Franco-Prussian war, to the great chagrin of the Ger- 

 mans, the French paid the indemnity imposed upon them, in a sur- 

 prisingly short time. This was largely due to their inimitable and 

 distinctive French designs in laces, dresses and similar products which 

 enabled them to gain and hold commercial supremacy in these artistic 

 goods. 



Owing to the present war and the great debt that all the nations 

 have been obliged to assume, the competition in manufactured articles 

 with which to pay these debts will be practically at its maximum. 

 Canada, with its relatively small population and probable high cost 

 of living, cannot enter into competition by duplicating European 

 articles, but must offer for export products of purely Canadian design, 

 somewhat after the French idea of distinctive styles. In order to 

 guide the manufacturers towards the production of Canadian designs, 

 it seems that the early Indian art might well serve as a suitable starting 

 point. 



The designs that have usually been used are practically all based 

 upon Greek, Roman and other European art. Canada has imported 

 from Austria and Germany many things that she could have designed 

 herself. It has been the same in the United States. In the silk 

 industry, for instance, the war practically cut off the sole supply of 

 designs. The silk manufacturers have since employed museum 

 specimens from various countries such as Peru, Mexico, and Siberia, 

 as sources for ideas and motives for their designs, both woven and 

 printed. The cotton manufacturers and the dress designers have 

 also used such museum specimens. The results have been financially 

 successful. 



Canada can surpass this method in two ways: first, by using 

 motives not merely for silk and cotton, but for all her products that 

 require designs; and second, by using motives that are distinctive of 

 Canada — not borrowed from foreign countries. 



There are over one hundred and seventy-five different classes 

 of Canadian manufactures dependent on good designs for success, and 

 about a thousand Canadian firms manufacture them. 



