56 LAUFER, THE DECORATIVE ART OF THE AMUR TRIBES. 



The general framework of the ornament presented in Fig. i, Plate xxi, is 

 almost the same as that shown in Fig. 5, Plate xx, but particularly in the lower 

 portion, where two facing scrolls are surrounded by two conventionalized fishes 

 having a curved body in common. The cocks above have two circles in their 

 mouths, as in Fig. 5 a, Plate xx. The field represented in Fig. ra is treated 

 merely in a geometrical way, two wave-lines filled in with triskeles extending 

 along both sides. 



On the basket, Fig. 2, Plate xxi, the ornamented portions are cut out of 

 bark and appliqueed to the box. The ornaments are symmetrically arranged 

 above and below, as is shown by the inserted auxiliary lines. The rectangle 

 enclosed by them is the fundamental ingredient of the whole series ; slightly 

 varied, however, in the corresponding design beyond the vertical medial axis. 

 Here occurs the interesting case of two cocks united in one figure. At the points 

 a and b two combatant cocks meet, the right one (a) running out into a scroll to 

 which the body of the cock b runs parallel, whereas on the other side the body of 

 the cock corresponding to a only borders on the scroll which belongs to the body 

 of the cock /; on that side. To speak from a purely ornamental point of view, 

 there is a lozenge in the centre (c) with two perforations, which sends forth four 

 scrolls to the sides and a three-scalloped figure above and below. 



Fig. 3 of the same plate represents a profusely and richly decorated basket, 

 colored in red, black, and blue. The upper edge (a), divided into small sections, 

 contains strongly conventionalized cocks of Type B. Those in the hatched parts 

 have their necks, heads, and beaks lying at the extreme ends of a wave-line, their 

 bodies being indicated by two united triskeles. In the other, larger fields the 

 beaks are recurved ; and between neck and spiral body is a circle, which seems to 

 hint at a misplacement of the circle usual in front of the beak. In the central 

 part there are several large fields (It, c, d ) bounded by a wave-line. In field c 

 there is a pair of facing spirals in the centre, framed by combined semicircles. 

 Above this figure are two confronting cocks ; under their two circles, a two-lobed 

 leaf. There is a three-lobed leaf under the two spirals. On either side of these 

 is a pair of fishes with heads contiguous. In field d prevails a tasteful com 

 position of spirals, two upright fish-heads being inserted below. The lower edge 

 (e) is composed of double spirals shaped into triskeles by tangential offshoots. 



Fig. 3 a is the cover to the box represented in Fig. 3, the edge being adorned 

 with the same decorative line as in Fig. 3, e. The central field shows in the 

 middle the same spiral structure as in Fig. 3, c, around which six scrolls are 

 grouped. 



EMBROIDERY-PATTERNS. Fig. i, Plate xxn, is an embroidered border 

 covered with a double row of ornaments. The upper row is based on a combina 

 tion of two figures, two conventionalized combatant fishes and two united cock- 

 heads shaped like the letter X, large ovals being attached to the middle piece 

 which joins them. In the under row there is a wave-line, the single components 

 of which are fashioned like bird-heads with pointed beaks. A similar formation 



