LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 15 



with a continuous series of compound double spirals. Whereas the cover 

 (Fig. 9 a) shows the band-ornament in a very impressive way, the form of the 

 compound spiral in the central rhombus reminds one strongly of the Japanese 

 futatsutomoye (see Figs. 2-9, Plate xvi). 



The dish shown in Fig. i, Plate v, is decorated with a different pattern on 

 each end. The arrangement of the band-ornament here differs widely from the 

 other representations of it : on the end to the left is a continuous band formed 

 by two parallel outlines, one of which is placed near to and parallel with the edge 

 of the dish proper, the other being combined with the terminations of the two 

 central facing spirals, resulting in a very strange figure, which has properly no 

 ornamental or symbolical significance. In a similar way a still stranger figure is 

 produced in the longer tapering end on the other side. The negative parts here 

 require so much space that at first sight one might consider them as expressing 

 the ornament proper. If, however, we bisect the four-armed figure longitudinally, 

 we shall recognize that the arms with the adjoining outlines of the figure are 

 simply portions of spirals, and that merely their combination, and their adaptation 

 to the space available, have given rise to this peculiar kind of figure. Very 

 striking is the lack of symmetry displayed in the two halves of this device. To 

 an X-shaped figure on the one side corresponds a hammer-shaped figure on the 

 other side, just as the condition of size varies. A combination of two such 

 figures at the apex of this triangle is represented in an anchor-shaped figure, to 

 which, however, no positive ornamental meaning is attributed, but it simply 

 designates the course of the band. Fig. 2 of this plate is the cover of a tobacco- 

 box of ellipsoidal shape. The central and lateral portions stand out a little beyond 

 the two half-elliptical sections, which show the same ornamentation in correspond 

 ing symmetrical arrangement, two double spirals treated as bands. In the 

 middle raised part is a pair of intertwined bands which coil at the ends into 

 band-spirals. 



Figs. 3-5, Plate v, illustrate drills, three old rare pieces from the village of 

 Chomi on the Liman. While the upper and lower parts are ornamentally carved, 

 the middle portion is covered with a band consisting of incised parallel oblique 

 lines, to symbolize, as it were, the turning motion of the instrument. The patterns 

 show again a combination of the band-ornament with the spiral. That the spiral 

 however, is not to be considered as the fundamental element of the ornament, is 

 seen from the neighboring auxiliary figures, which run parallel to the winding of 

 the spiral, and have no other purpose than to indicate the direction of the band. 

 Thus we see in the lower part of Fig. 3, in the centre, facing spirals surmounted 

 by a pointed arch, the two curves of which run parallel to the windings of the 

 spirals above ; and under these facing spirals is a strangely shaped figure which 

 has arisen through the four curves of which it consists being drawn parallel to the 

 adjoining spirals in making room for the band. The circle symbolizes its terminal 

 knot. On the upper part of this drill occurs again a similar combination of spiral 

 and of interlacement-bands. The ornamentations on Figs. 4 and 5 are only 



