446 



FORM AND ORNAMENT IN CERAMIC ART. 



a part of the environment. The primitive artist does not proceed by 

 methods identical with our own. He does not deliberately and freely 

 examine all departments of nature or art and select for models those 

 things most convenient or most agreeable to fancy; neither does he 

 experiment with the view of inventing new forms. What he attempts 

 depends almost absolutely upon what happens to be suggested by pre- 

 ceding forms, and so narrow and so direct are the processes of his 

 mind that, knowing his resources, we could closely predict his results. 



The range of models in the ceramic art is at first very limited, and 

 includes only those utensils devoted to the particular use to which the 

 clay vessels are to be applied ; later, closely-associated objects and 

 utensils are copied. In the first stages of art, when the savage makes 

 a weapon, he modifies or copies a weapon; when he makes a vessel, he 

 modifies or copies a vessel. 



This law holds good in an inverse ratio to culture, varying to a cer- 

 tain extent with the character of the material used. 



Natural originals. — Natural originals, both animal and vegetable, 

 necessarily differ with the country and the climate, thus giving rise to 

 individual characters in art forms often extremely persistent and sur- 

 viving decided changes of environment. 



The gourd is probably the most varied and suggestive natural vessel. 

 We find that the primitive potter lias often copied it in tbe most literal 

 manner. One example only, out of the many available ones, is neces- 

 sary. This is from a mound in southeastern Missouri. 



In Fig. 4GI, a illustrates a common form of the gourd, while b repre- 

 sents the imitation in clay. 



a, Goiml. 6, Clay vessel. 



FIG. 4G4. — Form derived from a gourd. 



All nations situated upon the sea or upon large rivers use shells of 

 mollusks, which, without modification, make excellent receptacles for 

 water and food. Imitations of these are often found among the prod- 

 ucts of the potter's art. A good example from the Mississippi Valley 

 is shown in Fig. 465, <t being the original and b the copy in clay. 



In Africa, and in other countries, such natural objects as cocoauut 

 shells, and ostrich eggs are used in like manner. 



