14 



TEXTILE FABRICS OF ANCIENT PERU. 



in such cases progresses systematically from one end of the piece to the 

 other, as in the loom work of the Pueblo Indians. 



The slits, as in the tapestry, occur only on outlines that run with the 

 web. In Pueblo work the junction line is closed by passing the threads 

 of both neighboring color areas around a common web thread, causing 

 a slight enlargement along the line. 



Fig. 8. — Small piece of gobelins showing slits open and closed. 



Another feature of tapestry, in which its superiority in the delineation 

 of natural forms is shown, is illustrated in Fig. 10. 





Fig. 9. — Silhouette of a small piece of open gobelins. 



In ordinary weaving the woof threads cross the warp at right angles, 

 or nearly so, and the processes of insertion and beating down make it 

 difficult to vary from this formal relation of parts, but in tapestry there 

 is much freedom, as it is possible to carry the threads to a certain ex- 

 tent tcitli the curves of the figures. It will be seen, however, b}^ refer- 

 ence to Fig. 10, that the amount of mobility is limited ; when it is at- 

 tempted to fill in the curved beak of the bird the threads are inclined 

 downward, conforming to the curved outline. When the final turn is 

 reached at the curve of the beak, and the outline descends Avith the 

 warp, wrapping must be resorted to and a straight line is produced, but 

 it is more restricted than in rectangular work. Beyond this, in com- 

 pleting the hooked bill, the threads are inclined downward to the right. 



Jn every vertical turn there must, therefore, be an imperfection in the 

 curve, caused by reversing the direction of the threads. 



It will prove tedious to describe in detail the numerous varieties of 



