200 TKXTii.E Airr in kklation to korm and OKNA.MKXT. 



works of more cultured peoijles, he does so at tlie expense of construc- 

 tion and adaptability to use. An example of such work is presented 

 in Fig. 290. a weak, useless, and wholly vicious piece of basketry. 



Fio. aso. Basket made i 



Other equally men ti n i ms jut ces represent goblets, bottles, and tea 

 pots. They are tin woik ot tlie Indians of the northwest coast and 

 are executed in the neatest possible manner, bearing evidence of the 

 existence of cultivated taste. 



It appears from the preceding analyses that form in this art is 

 not sutHciently sensitive to receive impressions readily from the 

 ilelicate touch of esthetic fingers; besides, there are iieculiar diffi- 

 culties in the way of detecting traces of the presence and supervision 

 of taste. The inherent morphologic forces of the art are strong and 

 stubborn and tend to produce the precise classes of results that we. 

 at this stage of culture, are inclined to attribute to esthetic influence. 

 If, in the making of a vessel, the demands of use are fully satisfied. 

 if construction is perfect of its kind, if materials are uniformly 

 suitable, and if models are not absolutely Ijad. it follows that the 

 result must necessarily possess in a high degree those very attributes 

 that all agree are pleasing to the eye. 



In a primitive water vessel function gives a full outline, as ca- 

 pacity is a prime (•(Uisidi-ratinn: cDiixciiii'ncc nf use callsfor a narrow 

 neck and a cniiif.-il li.isr; (..nstnictidii .-iinl niafcrials unite to impose 

 certain limltatidus tncurvrs and thiMr cuiiiliiiiations. from which the 

 artist cannot readily free himself. Models furnished by nature, as 

 they are usually graceful, do not interfere with the pi'eceding agen- 

 cies, and all these forces united tend to give symmetry, grace, and 

 the unity that belongs to simplicity. Taste which is in a formative 

 state can but fall in with these tendencies of the art, and must be led 



