Chapteb CV. 

 DECORATIVE AM) RELIGIOl 



Air 



THE Plains Indians have a well-developed decora- 

 tive art in which simple geometric designs are the 

 elements of composition. This art is primarily 

 the work of women. Clothing and other useful article-, 

 made of skins, were rendered attractive by designs in 



d 



Fig. 45. Types of Designs on Moccasins. (Kroeber). 



beads and quills. Rawhide bags and parfleche (p. 65- 

 7) were treated with a peculiar type of painting in 

 many colors. Realistic art was practised chiefly by men 

 in the recording of war deeds (p. 100) and reached a high 

 degree of excellence among the Dakota and Mandan. 

 The technical aspect of bead and quill work of the 



127 



