File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17540357783).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo16amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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306 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL for patterns which may be borrowed entire, and could be used for rugs, or even for dress trimmings. For the worker in metals, the decora-
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This elaborate all-f)ver design i>« a lall (■aiidlest.ick was orifjinated hy the Tliiif,'il Indians lor a painted j)addle. In the adaptation ol' Indian desifin to mod- ern art, suitability to the new material and medium and to the size, shape and use of lh(- article must be considered tive rosettes will be especially helpful. The craftsman must consider the limita- tions of his medium, but many of the rosettes offer beautiful shapes for jewelry. The well-spaced lines of the motive insure an interesting design without further ornament, which is not always true of commercial jewelry. The at- tempt to cover poor design by adding jewels, which in themselves are always beautiful, is a pitiful display of ineffi- ciency. The Indian pottery is often crude in execution, but the shapes are wonderfully well conceived. The sim- plicity of form is well worth studying, and for the worker who models his own shapes there are many suggestions. There are comparatively few examples with handles, but the pieces, especially the bowls, are well proportioned and show a subtle feeling for curvature. For the keramic worker there are absolutely limitless possibilities. For the potter there are suggestions both for shapes and decoration. The use of natural clay with the decoration in soft dull colors might open up a new field. The pottery workers have developed wonderful glazes and colors, but a careful study of the Pueblo pottery will reveal a beauty in the simpler method. The decorations are often remarkably well planned and the fret ornament of the Utah tribes is as beautiful as the Greek, although not as good in technique. The Zuni designs are more in accord with modern lines of thought, and show a freedom of handling that is refreshing compared with some of the over- decorated commercial pottery. The In- dian motives lend themselves especially well to tiles for walls, floors, or mantels. Some of the woven patterns could be reproduced for floor tiles with artistic effect. . In selecting designs for any craft, a few general principles must be followed,

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