Raven Rattle

Item number A6796 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

Unpainted raven rattle with protruding tapered bird beak at one end and long, narrow and spilt tubular handle at the other. There are two complementary parts that join together to form the rattle (held by nails; no wrapped cord). There is a reclining figure on the raven's back that is connected to a frog by a protruding tongue. The back of the tail has a small bird face. The round belly is undecorated other than a thin ridge ending in a carved nose.

History Of Use

Ceremonial rattle.

Narrative

In 1963, Solomon Brown of Kitkatla (1886-1970) took two rattles (A6795-96) and a painted shirt (A6797) to Vera Webb of the Totem Pole Gift Shop, to sell them. He told her the items had belonged to his uncle, Dzagmgishaaytks (recorded as Zagumgish Hoiks), who had died when Solomon was a child. Vera asked Audrey Hawthorn at MOA if she would like to buy them for the museum, which she did.