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Chapter One. The Material Background |
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animal motifs in wood carving |
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While the human figure was a frequent subject for the wood-carver's art, animals, particularly wild animals, provided equal inspiration. Tigers, elephants, monkeys, and hornbills constituted favorite motifs, while domestic animals were hardly ever depicted. How little the Konyak artist was restricted by a set of traditional motifs was demonstrated by one carving of soldiers with rifles, which had been executed soon after the Konyaks had had their first experience of Indian troops. |
