ANCIENT POTTERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



143 



A still more highly conventionalized form is shown in c. The 



cup is unsymmetrical in out- 

 line, and has a few imperfect 

 nodes near one corner, but its 

 resemblance to a shell would 

 hardly be recognized by one 

 unacquainted with more real- 

 istic renderings of like sub- 

 jects. In a we have a shell 

 cup placed within a plain cup. 



Fig. 17. — Ve 



shell.— J. 



A very good illustration of this class of vessel is given in Fig. 

 17. It is evidently intended to imitate a trimmed conch shell. 

 The apex and a few of the surround- 

 ing nodes are shown at the right, 

 while the base or spine forms a pro- 

 jecting lip at the left. 



Fig, 18 shows the end view of the 

 vessel, which corresponds to the top 

 of the shell. xA. coil of clay forms the Fig. iS.— Vessel imitating shell 

 apex. This is carried outward in a sinistral spiral to the noded 

 shoulder. We have here a suggestion of the origin of that greatest 

 of decorative motives, the scroll, a clue, however, which the paucity 

 of examples makes it difficult to follow up satisfactorily. 



Although we may not be able to arrive at any definite conclu- 

 sion in regard to the origin and significance of the practice of 

 modeling life forms in clay, we are certain of one thing, that it 

 became an important feature in the potter's art, and that in due 

 course of time the practice broke loose from the restraints of birth 

 and tradition and asserted its freedom in the production of any 

 form that superstition or fancy happened to dictate. 



The artist probably did not follow nature with great accuracy in 

 all the details of species and varieties, but some definite model must, 

 in nearly all cases, have been in view, and such characters as came 

 to be regarded as essential to that creature were never lost sight of, 

 consistency being a most notable characteristic of the art of a savage 

 or barbaric people. 



Fish. — The sun-fish has been a favorite model, but its form has gen- 

 erally been employed in vessels with upright necks. A number of 

 examples occur in the next section. The collection contains but 

 two shallow vessels so embellished. These are shown in outline in 



