H0I.MES.1 OEOMETKIC CH A KAC TKH OF ADOPTED MOTIVES. 2?>'} 



right angled interlacing, for the reason, im ilmilit. that this comlji- 

 nation was better suited to the development of tlie intended design. 

 Besides the fundamental series of fillets the weaver resorted to un- 

 usual devices in order to secure certain desired results. In the 

 first place the black horizontal series of filaments does not alternate 

 in the simplest way with the brown series, but, where a wide space 

 (if tlie (Luk color is called for, several of the brown strands are passed 

 over at one step, as in the head and body, and in the wider inter- 

 spaces the dark strands pass under two or more of the opposing 

 strands. In this way broad areas of color are obtained. It will be 

 observed, however, that the construction is weakened by this modi- 

 fication, and that to remedy the defect two additional extra construct- 

 ive series of fillets are added. These ai'e of much lighter weight 



r r' 



Fin. :i41. Conventional human figures from an ancient Peruvian basket. 



than the main series, that they may not obscure the pattern. Over 

 tlie dark series they run vertically and over the light obliquely. 



It will be seen that the result, notwithstanding all this modification 

 of ])rocedure, is still remarkably like that of the preceding examples, 

 the figures corresponding closely in kind and degree of geometricity. 



The fact is that in this coarse work refinement of drawing is abso- 

 lutely unattainable. It appears that the sharply pronounced steps ex- 

 hibited in the outlines are due to the great width of the fillets used. 

 With the finer threads employed by most nations of moderate cult- 

 ure the stepped effect need not obtrude itself, for smooth outlines and 

 graceful curves are easily attainable; yet. as a rule, even the finer 

 fabrics continue to exhibit in their decorations the pronounced geo- 

 metric character seen in ruder forms. I present a striking example 

 of this in Fig. 34-3. a superb piece of Incarian gobelins, in which 

 a gaily costumed personage is woi'kcil u]ioii m, dark red ground dot- 



