STRING FIGURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 12

STRING FIGURES

AN INTERESTING LECTURE An interesting lecture was given by Mr W. G. Aldridge in the Museum buildings last night under the auspices of the Archeological branch of the Otago lilstilute. The subject of the lecture was ‘' String Figures as an Art,” and Mr Aldridge had no difficulty in keeping the audience deeply interested. Mr H. D, Skinner presided. Mr Aldridge said he was very much concerned about the skill to be shown by fingers. He had been drawn to the subject by the skill of a small girl with her lingers, and from that skill lie had obtained his inspiration. With the aid of yards of ordinary string, Mr Aldridge commenced by demonstrating what was known as a cat’s cradle. He then demonstrated many more figures, which were formed by the string being manipulated on the fingers of two girls. These figures, which, gave a fairly good impression of the subject they represented, included a cat's eye and a crown, 11ns was the European and Asiatic contribution to his subject. Many of the figures formed were very fascinating. With a quick movement the lecturer formed a pouch, which was called a pot by the Eskimos. He then demonstrated an African figure, which was one of the most primitive made. No one actually knew how these figures were first thought out, but they were very clever. In forming these figures the natives used their knees, wrists, fingers, and very often their mouths. When they reached one stage with the formation ot a string figure, they were interested in turning the figure inside out, and thus another figure was formed. In forming some of the figures native to Africa, the savages had to use the fingers. It was done with lightning speed, and these figures were still made by the African natives to-day. Demonstrations of double loop figures followed. Figures representing a cobra, cloud effects, birds, butterflies, and rocks were then formed by the lecturer and his assistants, the whole being neatly formed by nimble fingers. A senes ot finger movements demonstrated the manner in which the African native made string diamond figures. The Maoris, Eskimos, and other natives knew bow to make two and four-loop figures, but had little idea of progression. A demonstration of a Maori canoe showed the difficulties the natives were faced with in making such figures. One of the most beautiful of nil figures was the one native to the Eskimos —the formation ot an Eskimo carrying his canoe on his back. The Maori figures were also amoijg tie most beautiful, and the art was in the extension of some of these figures. Ibe lecturer demonstrated many other strange and interesting figures made by the Africans and natives of other countries. In one figure the African bad managed to form a figure that showed wonderful ability. From a tangle of string it was shown how the African formed figures of houses, mountains, etc. The lecturer alscr showed how the Eskimos made a senes of figures which were entirely different froin those native to other countries. The Eskimo had the happy knack of making figures of birds, fish, and beasts. An illustration of a South American Indian figure, in the form of a looking glass, was shown bv the lecturer and his assistants. 'ln conclusion, Mr Aldridge said his lecture had demonstrated the skill of the natives. If they did things undertaken by savage races it gave them a desire to do things that were simple and natural. He could not say whether his efforts to prove that his subject was a primitive work of art had been a success, but they would give his audience food for thought. Mr Aldridge was accorded a vote of thanks for his lecture.