Linton — The Marquesas Islands 



289 



1. Circles, either single or in concentric series (fig. 6, a). 



2. Ovals, either single or in concentric series (fig. 6, b). 



3. Portions of circles and ovals, either plain or filled with lines parallel to the circiuTi' 

 ference, (fig. 5, c. d. c). 



4. Series of parallel wavy lines (fig. 5, b.) 



5. Irregular curves (fig. 5, a.) 



Figure 5. — Curvilinear designs carved on house posts: a, irregular curves: c, d, c, 

 ments of circles or ovals ; b, series of parallel wavy lines. Reproduced from rubbings. 



seg- 



When used in patterns the arrangement of these design elements is never perfectly sym- 

 metrical, although in some designs, notably those formed by four semicircles or semiovals 

 (fig. 5, 0), there is some approach to balance. Many of the patterns consist almost entirely oi 

 irregular curves and are completely unsymmetrical, no two elements corresponding in size 01 

 position. Interesting features of the curvilinear decoration are the complete absence of the 

 conventionalized human faces used in all other forms of Marquesan carving and the practical 

 absence of spiral forms. 



COMBINED ANGUL.\R-GEOMETRIC .\ND CURVILINE.\R DESIGNS 



Angular-geometric and curvilinear designs frequently occur together in the same zone, 

 the common arrangements being : 



1. Curvilinear designs, especially concentric circles or ovals, superposed upon angular- 

 geometric designs (fig. 6, a, b). 



2. Curvilinear designs used to fill one or more of the elements of a geometric pattern. 



3. Gradual transitions from angular-geometric to curvilinear designs, as in the case of 

 some bands of parallel lines which grade imperceptably from zigzags at one end to wavy lines 

 at the other. In all such combinations the angular-geometric motifs appear to be the basic ones. 



[29] 



