Fig. 489.—Theoretical development of scroll work.
Let us turn to the primitive artisan, and observe him at work with rude brush and stylus upon the rounded and irregular forms of his
utensils and weapons, or upon skins, bark, and rock surfaces. Is it probable that with his free hand directed by the eye alone he will be able to achieve these rythmic geometric forms. It seems to me that the whole tendency is in the opposite direction. I venture to surmise that if there had been no other resources than those named above the typical rectilinear fret would never have been known, at least to the primitive world; for, notwithstanding the contrary statement by Professor Hartt, the fret is in its more highly-developed forms extremely difficult to follow with the eye and to delineate with the hand. Until arts, geometric in their construction, arose to create and to combine mechanically the necessary elements and motives, and lead the way by a long series of object-lessons to ideas of geometric combination, our typical border ornament would not be possible. Such arts are the textile arts and architecture. These brought into existence forms and ideas not met with in nature and not primarily thought of by man, and combined them in defiance of human, conceptions of grace. Geometric ornament is the offspring of technique.
[2] Hartt: Popular Science Monthly, Vol. VI, p. 266.
INDEX.
| Acquisition of new material modifies form in pottery | [451] |
| Adventition, a source of form | [445], [450] |
| America as a field for study of art | [443] |
| Basketry copied in pottery | [449] |
| Busycon shell copied as a vessel, The | [454] |
| California, Pottery from | [447] |
| Ceramic art, Origin and development of form and ornament in, W.H. Holmes | [437]-[465] |
| form discussed | [444] |
| ornament discussed | [444] |
| Coils suggesting spiral ornament | [456] |
| Decorative motive in pottery, Sources of | [453] |
| European civilization checked aboriginal American art | [443] |
| Fancy modifying form in pottery | [452] |
| Fictile art related to written language | [443] |
| Form modifies ornament in pottery | [458] |
| of pottery modified by certain influences | [450]-[452] |
| Hartt, Prof. C.F., on form of designs as influenced by structure of the eye | [463]-[464] |
| Ideographic elements of decoration | [453] |
| Imitation, A source of form | [445] |
| Improvements in modes of manufacture modify forms in pottery | [450] |
| Intention a modifier of form in pottery | [452] |
| Modification of ornaments in pottery | [458] |
| Non-ideographic elements of decoration | [453] |
| Origin and development of form and ornament in ceramic art (W.H. Holmes) | [437]-[465] |
| Origin of ornament in pottery | [453] |
| Ornament in pottery, Origin of | [453]-[457] |
| Ornamental elements modified by invention | [453] |
| Pottery from California | [447] |
| Tusayan | [451] |
| Utah | [449] |
| Scroll, Possible origin of the | [459] |
| Shells copied in pottery | [447] |
| Skin vessels copied in pottery | [447] |
| Sources of decorative motive in ceramic art | [453] |
| Spiral ornament from coils | [456] |
| Stone vessels copied in pottery | [447] |
| Symbols adopted rather than invented | [460] |
| Utility modifies form in pottery | [452] |
| Wooden vessels copied in pottery | [447] |
| Written language as related to fictile art | [443] |