BoAs] DESIGN ELEMENTS 251 
black and red ones. In horizontal figures the failure to attain truly 
vertical lines is not disturbing, because they do not extend over 
more than two or three coils; but it is noticeable in tall and narrow 
figures. A number of rectangles may be seen in the plates illustrating 
the use of squares and triangles. 
THE TRIANGLE 
Not a single old basket and only very few modern specimens have 
the true triangle appearing alone as a single element, unconnected in 
any manner with other triangles or figures; but both isosceles and 
right-angled triangles in series are common on all specimens. Where 
the triangle is connected with others the figure is the result of diago- 
nal divisions of a larger surface. A casual glance at hundreds of’ 
specimens would lead the student to suppose that the triangle was 
one of the most common single elements in Thompson art. By the 
term triangle a three-sided figure is meant, which by its treatment 
shows that it is a three-sided figure, not a space between converging 
lines. It is an independent form worked in solid color, or outlined 
on three sides, imbricated or plain within these boundaries. The 
presence of such figures would lead the student to suppose that the 
triangle as a separate art element was consciously recognized. Only 
on a few baskets of fairly late origin is anything conforming to these 
specifications discovered. Here one finds the simple very small 
triangle—of course with the step edge, not exceeding four coils in 
height—built up in solid colors as a separate element. Usually the 
direction of building is upward from a single stitch at the apex to four 
or five stitches at the ‘‘inverted base,’ except where there is an 
opposed series. Here in one series the direction of building is to our 
eyes normal. The number of stitches along the base as compared to 
the height usually depends on whether the triangle is right-angled or 
isosceles. 
The outlined triangle is also seen occasionally on modern examples 
but nearly alwaysin aseries. The only illustrations of the use of true 
triangles (that is, not interlocking) are given in Plates 25, d; 44, ¢, h, 2, 
and 45, h, which are almost all that were found after a careful study 
of hundreds of photographed specimens comprising not only entire 
collections from all the large museums in this country but also those 
belonging to individuals. In some semirepresentative attempts the 
wings of butterflies and birds assume truly triangular forms. These 
are excepted from this statement. In one example the true triangle 
is used along the rim. It may be that the necessarily increased 
width of the horizontal outline of the triangle which must have the 
full width of the coil, as compared to that of the diagonal sides, which 
consist of one or two stitches, accounts for the frequent omission of 
this part of the figure in the case of outlines. Certainly when present 
