Oval Human Face Rattle
Item
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Title
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Oval Human Face Rattle
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Identifier
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2006.19.0008
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Other Identifier
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IR 0032
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Item Name
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rattle
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Date Made
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1930s-1950s
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Region
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Northern Northwest Coast; Haida Gwaii
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Culture
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Haida or Tlingit
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Interpretation
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Historically, Tlingit shamans used rattles with human face motifs for healing ceremonies. Among the Haida, the painted tattoo motifs might have represented the shaman dancers at annual community ceremonies. When the Canadian government banned spiritual practices in 1884, ceremonial implements of all kinds were confiscated. Instead, a growing ethnic and tourist art market encouraged Northwest Coast artists to produce carvings for sale. This rattle was probably made during the early period of ceremonial revitalization in the mid-twentieth century. We may never know if it was made for sale or ceremony.
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Description
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Northwest Coast rattle with human face motif. Handle of rattle is made from a cylindrical piece of wood with the grain highly visible/accentuated through the stain. The body of the rattle is ovoid with a human face carved in relief on one side. The back side and edges of the front side are painted a matte orange color. The human face has abalone inlaid eyes and black and orange paint on the nose, mouth, and eyebrows, as well as formline designs that could represent face paint or tattoo designs.
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Dimensions
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h 9.25 x w 3.5 x 1.875 inches
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Medium
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carved and painted wood with abalone inlay
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Holding Institution
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SIUE University Museum
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Provenance
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Harrington, Milton K. and Doris T. (deceased)
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Record Contributors
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Cory Willmott; Hayley Goebel
2006190008.JPG