10 LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OE THE AMUR TRIBES. 



will at once be understood, that, owing to its form, it was readily employed on 

 spoon-handles ; for it is easily adapted to the space available, since it admits of 

 lengthening or shortening to suit the decorative field, and, besides, contributes in 

 a high degree to the gracefulness and elegance of the spoon ; furthermore, if we 

 regard the special purpose of these spoons, we may perceive a certain connection 

 between this pattern and the representations of the bear. In the case of the spoon 

 represented in Fig. 6 the fillet-ornament may be considered as the continuation of 

 the ropes with which the carved standing bear is bound, and this may be the un 

 derlying reason for the employment of this ornament on spoons specially designed 

 for use at the banquet of the bear-festival. Not alone from this example, but from 

 other instances as well, may it be seen that a deeper connection exists between the 

 fillet and the object, or the purpose of the object, on which it appears. At all 

 events, the bear-figures in combination with the fillet-ornament should not be 

 regarded as merely accidental. From this point of view, spoons decorated in 

 similar style, but without bear-carvings, should be ascribed to a secondary stage 

 of development. 



In almost all spoons there is a narrow curved portion between the bowl and 

 the handle proper. Seen from the side, this narrow section, in most cases, forms, 

 with the edge of the bowl, nearly a half-circle. In Figs, i, 5, 7, 9, Plate n, this 

 part of the handle adjoining the bowl is decorated with a simple zigzag line, which 

 appears to be a single thread drawn out from the main ribbon symbolizing the 

 band-ornament. Among the spoons in the collection, this serpentine line occurs 

 on those specimens only which have carvings of bear-figures in combination with 

 the svastika. The majority, however, are undecorated on this part, while a few 

 bear an incised figure composed of lines parallel with the curved line of the edge, 

 as in Fig. 3. On the last-named specimen a short zigzag appears at the upper, 

 and another at the lower, end of the handle proper, inside of the fillet. A few 

 spoons, as those in Figs, i, 5, 7, and 8, have rib-like designs on this part. 



The Gold have no bear-festival, and naturally, therefore, possess no spoons 

 decorated with symbols like those above described. Neither do we find any ser 

 pentine lines on their spoons. 



The bands on these spoons are all formed of the raised portions lying between 

 two parallel incised lines, the latter being of a negative character only ; that is to 

 say, the incised parts serve merely to outline the ornament, and in some cases also 

 to fill in otherwise vacant spaces. In themselves they are not ornamental. 



On Fig. i, Plate 11, we observe a band twisted at two points. Inside of this 

 band are designs identical with those of the arm of the svastika. on the bowls. 

 On the next specimen (Fig. 2) two bands intertwine, forming two circular knots. 

 The portion between the knots curves out at the centre on either side, admitting 

 a third knot, indicated by an incised circle. The negative parts at both ends are 

 filled up with short parallel horizontal lines, and in the centre with single vertical 

 lines. The ornament in Fig. 3 consists of three bands. The middle one forms a 

 circular knot at both ends and a large rhombus in the centre. Two short side- 



