Carved Wooden Whistle, Spapakwilla Or Oolalla's Call

Item number E89062-0 from the National Museum of Natural History.

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Notes

FROM CARDS: "COPY SENT REV. F.W. GALPIN, HARLOW, ENG. NOV. 1902. COPY SENT MRS. J. CROSBY BROWN, 11-25-1902. SEE USNM AR 1888, PL. 62, FIG. 334, P. 330 NIBLACK. ILLUS. IN USNM AR 1895, FIG. 205, P. 654, AND IN USNM BULL 136, PL. 14-H, P. 127. SEE OLD PRINT #9995 FOR FORMER APPEARANCE ILLUS. METHOD OF BINDING (SPRUCE ROOT BARK?). MADE IN TWO LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS TIED TOGETHER AT THE EDGES. DESIGN: A HUMAN HEAD NOT SO THICK FROM FRONT TO BACK AS WIDE. THE NECK REDUCED TO A MOUTH PIECE. THE OPEN MOUTH OF THE DESIGN FORMS THE SOUND OF THE WHISTLE. IT HAS ONE FINGER HOLE IN THE FOREHEAD. 'A LARGE WHISTLE USED TO ANNOUNCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF A FESTIVAL. VERY HIGHLY PRIZED. THE NAME IS OOLALLA SPAPOKWILLA, OR OOLALLA WHISTLE.'- SWAN'S DESC. CAT.. LOAN: R.H. LOWIE MUSEUM 12/31/1964, LOAN RETURNED FEB. 15, 1966. LOANED TO THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1971, RETURNED 2-9-1972." OVER THE YEARS WHISTLE 89062 HAS BEEN CONFUSED WITH WHISTLE 89063. THE WHISTLE NOW CALLED 89062 MATCHES THE LEDGER BOOK DRAWING FOR 89062 AND ALSO THE ILLUSTRATION IN NIBLACK. - F. PICKERING 6-9-1997