Rattle

Item number 1390/1 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

The top part of the rattle (a) is a carved and painted raven rattle with a human and a frog on its back. The bottom part (part b) is an oval bowl-shaped with longer handle. The bowl area is carved and painted with a bird face with a beak carved in relief. Handles of both parts are made to fit together. The light yellow-brown wood of each part is painted black and red, dark blue and dark green. Inscribed on top "V. Schooner"; the bottom has "V.S."

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Narrative

Sold to MOA by Mary Heathcote (Nuxalk) in 1989. In 2008 Bill Holm studied the rattle and said the painted design is Heiltsuk in style. Melvin Mack and D. Stewart Clellamin wondered if it had been made by Dick Snow (Nuxalk). The "V. Schooner" written on the rattle suggests it was either made by, or previously owned by, Mary's brother, Vernon Schooner? Holm also noted that the rattle probably once held lead shot inside (as the noise-making material), as evidenced by the lead oxide on the inside of the cavity. Parts a-b would originally have been lashed together.