$59,250
Rare Northwest Coast Shaman's Rattle, c. 1840-60, probably Tlingit, carved in two pieces with central mask-like face on each side, with pierced circular mouth, framed by two relief carved seals in profile, red and black pigment, ht. 9 1/4, wd. 3 7/8 in. Note: Rattles on the northwest coast were used in connection with spirit contact. The sound of the rattle is said to open communication with ancestral spirits, who were called upon for strength and guidance in challenging endeavors. Most rattles are sculpted with a hollow chamber at the center, which is smaller in raven and other bird rattles and larger in the ones of globular form. This intriguing example, however, is related to a small sub-group of globular rattles that have been called pierced or donut rattles. These generally have a flattened-globular form, and the unexpected feature of a hole that cleanly pierces through the center of the rattle from front to back. The hollowed chamber of the rattle is formed around the hole, like the negative form of a donut, so that the percussive pieces within the chamber, which could be seeds, tiny stones, beads, or birdshot, would not spill out. A small but significant number of pierced rattles exists today, distributed through a similar number of museums in the US, Canada, and Europe. Why or how this interesting rattle variant came about is unrecorded and unknown, though it may be related to the concept of a tubular 'soul-catcher.' This was a type of shaman's amulet, most often Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2011-01-15
