. Decorative art of New Guinea, incised designs. Decoration and ornament -- New Guinea; Decoration and ornament. CARVING TOOL. incisor tooth, with a portion of the jaw of a small marsupial, wrapped with cord, to serve as a handle. Hnon Gulf, New Guinea. design, corresponding to our fret, scroll, etc., and with no more realistic meaning than we ascribe to such terms. On the other hand, certain designs, especially these representing the human figure, in whole or in part, may y^'NiPimP^'^*' have a definite ceremonial or religious For example, while the design on a spear, such
. Decorative art of New Guinea, incised designs. Decoration and ornament -- New Guinea; Decoration and ornament. CARVING TOOL. incisor tooth, with a portion of the jaw of a small marsupial, wrapped with cord, to serve as a handle. Hnon Gulf, New Guinea. design, corresponding to our fret, scroll, etc., and with no more realistic meaning than we ascribe to such terms. On the other hand, certain designs, especially these representing the human figure, in whole or in part, may y^'NiPimP^'^*' have a definite ceremonial or religious For example, while the design on a spear, such as Fig. 6, Plate II, appears to be purely decorative, the small figure of a human being shown near the point represents the guiding force or spirit which is supposed to direct the spear to its proper destination. Such meanings are especially found in connection with ceremonial and religious objects. The designs may be roughly divided into two classes, which are also recog- nized by the natives themselves conventionalized geometric and realistic, the latter often much conventionalized in execution. The origin of the latter is usually evident, though not always, especially on ceremonial objects. As to the former, which the natives declare is simply "to make him look pretty," all attempts at a realistic interpretation are pure speculation. Most of the designs which follow fall in this class. At present the natives use iron very extensively, and most of the objects here illustrated were probably carved with knives or iron in some form. This does not mean that they are any better made, how- ever, than when iron was unknown, and the original stone, shell, or tooth instru- ment was used. Usually the contrary is true, as the people do not take the time at present to do careful work. The heavier and coarser work was done with stone axes, adzes, and chisels, while small stones, shell, and especially teeth were used for the finer. Illustrations of New Guinea carvings and design
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectdecorationandornamen
