New-York tribune., 1905-05-14


The great variety OF uses to which baskes
work was adapted in the life OF the native races
Of America. long kept large numbers OF their
women busily employed and resulted In the de-
velopment of remarkable skill in handling ths
materials OF the craft The possibilities Of orna-
ment were seized upon and utilized IN the adorn-
ment of the product, into which the workers
wove their Individual aspirations as we'll as the
historical and religious symbolism OF their fanl
lies and tribes. Basketry thus became the me
dunn of the highest artistic expression Of the
Amerinds. in form, color and design. The ten
dency this art to deteriorate as the tribes
have been more and more broken UP and re-
moved from their original habitats and the ma
terials to which they were accustomed. has of
late awakened a widespread interest in the
preservation and study of examples of this fas-
cinating native work How Widespread this in
terest has become is borne witness to by the
extensive bibliOgraphy and the long list OF
notable collections which Mr. Mason prints in
the appendix of his present work as well as
by his two handsome and beautifully illustrated
volumes themselves.
1t is gratifying to learn that the growth OF
'canastromania," as the author ventures to
term the basket collecting habit. not only among
students of ethnolOgy and persons attracted to
the subject from the arts and crafts point OF
view. but among those who are moved by a
urely aasthetic aIlurement. has already had a
marked effect in keeping alive and revivifying
this ancient industry. Certainly Mr. MasOn's
own comprehensive and scholarly contribution to
the subject should exercise a stimulating influ-
ence in this direction. The great number OF
illustrations alone. many Of them reproduced by
the three color process. should arouse 4 desire
for more intimate acquaintance with the beau
tiful originals or with similar specimens; while
not the least value Of the work is in its detail
drawings illustrating with precision the methods
employed in producing the pictured designs
With these aids the craftsman with the proper
materials and due patience can reproduce the
effects he admires. or like the original designer
utilize them for carrying out his own ideas
For the Indian woman worked and still works
without model or drawing 70 guide her. She
makes her baskets out of her own head, as she
goes along"
AS you gaze on the Indian basketmaker at work
herself frequently unkenpt. her garments the
cOarsest, her house and surroundings suggestive OF
any hlnS but beauty you are anlaztd- fou zoos
about YOU. in a cabinet shop or atelier, fer
effect TTherp ar none Her pattarrs are in her
soul in her memory and Imagination in the noun
tribal tales and myths which Dominate the action
of every hour She hears suggestions from an
for of these there are few rude knife, a pointed
bone. that is all. Her modelling block is herself
Her plastic body Is the repository of forms over
her knee She mOUldS depreSSiOnS IN her ware, and
her lap is equal To all emergencies for convex
effects. She herself is the creator of forms IN her
art.
Yet the basket maker must know exactly
what she is going to do before she begins
The painter, the potter. the sculptor is free
to make corrections or to add his finishing
touches after his work is done. "but the basket
maker is like the musiCian-every detail IN the
production must be attended TO correctly at the
time There is no chance to so back and rem
edy defects The ornameutatiOn OF basketry.
Mr.. Mason points out, must be studied with
three teachers. or guides-the technician, The
artist and the folk-Iorist:
With the first named are learned the varied ma
terialS To color and texture, the technical ee-
mentS and their forms, and the methods ot assem-
bling them. The artist viii show how these ele-
meuts, the one hand. open possibilities Tor
stitches and decuSSItiuns handicap attempts ~
freehand drawing. The fOlk-lurIst examines the
photography. the tutem-Sl, the lore and my tn"l y
OF the Oruameutatlon with a view 10 putting lhe
student into intellectual and spiritual T-.ltJilSp
with the baSketTuaktT Without her, 5aSkrtrldklnss
would be merely trade or calling ana ihr ARK
student would be utterly helpless IN detecting l-e
alphabet of design
Mr.. Mason has freely called on these three
guides in the preparation of his book. and gives
an exhaustive presentation OF the subject from
all three points of view The second volume is
devoted to a consideration of bJs6etry from the
ethnic standpoint. showing the state Of the art
in each of the basket making tribes the mere
list of which fills nearly nine pages.