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THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



tion is of incalculahle value. They 

 should serve for generations as an artis- 

 tic inspiration to designers and artists, 

 and if properly studied and applied, 

 they must have untold influence on the 

 sesthetic de^'elopnient of America. 



The Amur River tribes hare left us a 

 record of primitive Chinese motiA'es 



readers are familiar with this class of art; 

 although it may be said that this collec- 

 tion is xery much worth while to textile 

 designers. But Korea is another ques- 

 tion, for authentic examples of that won- 

 derful people's art are Aery scarce. The 

 Museum collection of art from this part 

 of the world is not as extensive as could 



Tie or resist dyeing is a very ancient art and consists in so treating tlie fabric that when j)ut in the dye pot 

 only certain portions of it absorb the colors. This is achieved by tying little bunches of the cloth vfith a cord which 

 resists the dye, producing a pattern when the cord is removed. The art was well known in India, and Moslem 

 conquests spread the method in the Philippines, where the Bagobo tribes are especially skillful, using it for their 

 "bandanna" headdresses. Also the Moors carried the craft into Spain whence it spread to Mexico. Except in 

 Peru, where it only exists in the simplest form, the origin of this decorative method can be clearly traced to Asia. 

 The fabric shown above is from Peru 



which, in their simplicity and strength, 

 should^be a help to modern designers. 

 In the collection of Ijronzes of ancient 

 China,' there is literally a mine of {esthetic 

 suggestions. The great collection of 

 modern Chinese embroideries is not illus- 

 trated for lack of space, and because most 



be wished, and the same might be said 

 of the wonderful fabrics from Sumatra 

 and Java. Where these collections fail, 

 however, the library comes to our aid 

 with much valuable material for design- 

 ers, especially with a certain book of three 

 volumes, Dc Inhmdschc Kiinstmjvcrhcid 



