36 



PRIMITIVE ART 



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ing. It is called the "bridle," because Mexican bridles have 

 on either side of the bit a figure resembling one of these scrolls. 



It is also inter- 

 preted as the 

 linking of 

 hand s. The 

 decorative ele- 

 ment shown in the figure below is interpreted as the steel for 

 striking fire. It is considered as an ornamental elaboration of 



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the form of steel used in this region. The arbitrary character of 

 the interpretations given by these people may be seen in the 

 elaboration of this design, which is sometimes developed into a 

 continuous band, and is then explained as a vine and flowers. A 



very frequent element of decoration is shown below, and is inter- 

 preted as roots of plants. The transition from these forms to 

 more realistic ones is very gradual. The simple geometrical 

 forms are combined into plant designs, and, in their most symmet- 

 rical arrangement, to flower de- 

 signs. To these are added some- 

 times realistic representations of 

 double-headed birds, of mountain- 

 lions and of other animals. Long 

 narrow ribbons covered with de- 

 signs of this character are generally described as serpents, the 

 design indicating the marks on the serpent's back. 



