RATTLE TOP: IN THE SHAPE OF A RAVEN, ON ITS BACK A RECUMBENT HUMAN FIGURE SUCKING A FROG'S TONGUE, FROG HELD IN BEAK OF BIRD'S HEAD. RATTLE BOTTOM: HAWK'S HEAD. LEATHER THONGS HOLDING HOLLOW TOP AND BOTTOM TOGETHER. SEEDS INSIDE? CARVINGS PAINTED IN BLACK, RED, GREEN AND BROWN PIGMENTS. SEE ACCESSION FILE FOR DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF 1952-53 RESTORATION BY DONOR. TRIBAL AND LOCATION DESIGNATIONS BY WILSON DUFF, 1969.This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=716, retrieved 3-31-2012: Rattle, Tsimshian. During secret society performances chiefs carried raven-shaped rattles that portrayed the transfer of spiritual power from animal beings to people. On Raven's back a crested bird holds a frog in its extended beak, and through its tongue the halaayt of the frog enters and transforms a person or spirit in human form. Raven rattles, used by the Tsimshian, Haida, and Tlingit, are thought to have been first made by a Tsimshian or Nisga'a artist.

FROM CARD: "HALIOTIS INLAID. ILLUS. IN USNM AR, 1888, PL. 7, FIG. 23, P. 260."FROM 19TH CENTURY OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "EAR ORNAMENTS.---RED SKEINS OF WOOL, TO WHICH ARE PENDANT TO-TEMS OF CARVED SHELL, HALIOTIS CALIFORNIANUS, INLAID WITH HALIOTIS KAMSCHATKENSIS. WORN BY NASSES [NASS] INDIAN, NEAR FORT SIMPSON. LENGTH, 9 INS. BREADTH, 1 1/2 INS. BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1875. 20,674. COLLECTED BY J.G. SWAN."This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.Source of the information below: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center Alaska Native Collections: Sharing Knowledge website, by Aron Crowell, entry on this artifact http://alaska.si.edu/record.asp?id=528, retrieved 4-24-2012: Ear ornaments or earrings. Ear ornaments made of yarn and abalone shell were a symbol of nobility. Fathers or uncles hosted potlatches to pierce the ears of their high-born children, nephews, and nieces, and the full measure of prestige was to reach adulthood with four holes on each side. The wise, elderly figure of Mouse Woman appears in Tsimshian sacred histories to offer advice to people in their dealings with supernatural beings. In payment she always asks for the person's wool earrings, which she burns and eats or takes away for lining her nest. Symbolically, ear perforations were connected with hearing, understanding, and wisdom of the kind that Mouse Woman offered.

Large standing welcome figure on a circular base. The figure has a mask-like face with deep set eyes, low relief eyebrows, prominent cheek bones and sharp angular nose. The mouth is open, showing two rows of teeth. The torso is straight and legs slightly bent at knees. The arms are carved separately in two pieces and joined at shoulders and elbows with wooden pegs. The elbows are bent, hands in front holding a carved wooden ladle (part b). The ladle has a deep oval bowl and a handle less than half the length of the whole.

Thick, neck ring consisting of layers of shredded cedar bark wrapped around itself to create a circular shape. On top of the cedar wrap is finely twisted cedar bark rope laid parallel and woven together. An additional sash of the same material is bound onto the ring by a plated cedar bark collar. Sewn to this sash are small, rectangular strips of hide. There is a piece of eagle down intertwined in the weaving.

Wood paddle painted in yellow, red, green, and black. Design consists of a black ovoid in tapering oval eye in yellow ovoid with a yellow split u at either side; one black and one red u form below with red filled in and a pair of black u forms underneath; a three-digit black, green, and black claw-like feature with a black ovoid in ovoid behind; and a black split u at the tip.

Wood paddle that has a fine design carved in relief on the blade and painted in red and black on both sides. Design consists of an ovoid in tapering oval eye in an ovoid with a split u in front; a pair of red and a pair of black u forms below; a split u behind with a four digit claw-like feature with a central ovoid in ovoid below; a u form at either side; a black split u at the base of the blade; and a red split u at the tip of the blade.

Irregularly-shaped, stone-like piece of ochre (part a). Flat, ovular stone with a circular hole bored near one edge; stained red and black (part b). Short, cylindrical double-pointed paint stick (part c). Rolled hide sheet (part d) with one pointed end enclosing thin strips of cedar bark; cloth thong tied to tip of pointed end. Elongated, yellow-white antler toggle with a short cloth thong tied through a circular hole bored through one end (part e).

Mask of a human-like face. Graphite black face has circular cut out hole eyes outlined by graphite black and surrounded by a plain tapering oval with red brows above. The large nose is rounded and triangular. The open pursed mouth is red. Leather skin is tied through a hole at either side.

Light brown wooden model totem pole with dark brown, green and black painted accents. From top to bottom, figures depicted are: a thunderbird, a raven and a beaver with its tail curled up between its legs. Protruding from the top of the pole is a cylindrical segment with three carved notches encircling it. Pole stands on a wooden base.