FIRST FLOOR, HALL 102. 



Cases 17-29 



Plains Indians. — The decorative art of the Plains Indians 

 resembles in some characteristic features that of the tribes of the 

 interior of British Columbia, although its technique is much 

 better and more elaborate. Its fundamental character is picto- 

 graphic. In objects which serve ceremonial purposes, this char- 

 acter is strictly maintained. Thus we find on buffalo-hides which 

 are records of events, and even on blankets, pictographic repre- 

 sentations of battle-scenes, or of other events in the daily life 

 of the Indian. On garments used in ceremonial dances, paint- 

 ings occur which represent birds, sun and moon, and are similar 

 in character to those described before. 



These, however, are not, strictly speaking, decorative designs. 

 In most cases where ornamentation is the prime object, the forms 

 which are utilized are arranged more or less symmetrically ; and 

 with the development of symmetry we find that the occurrence 

 of realistic forms disappears. Almost all the decorative work of 

 the Indians of the Plains is made in bead-embroidery, and is 



18 



