Medicine Rattles Item Number: E1034-0 from the National Museum of Natural History
Notes
FROM CARD: "NO. 1 HAS ELEVEN VALVES OF PECTUR [sic] SHELLS, HOOP OF SPRUCE ROOT NO. 2 HAS 16 VALVES STRUNG ON A SINGLE HOOP WHICH ITS ENDS LAPPED AND FEATHERS PLACED AT THE LAP, THE FEATHER AND LAP WOUND WITH CEDAR BARK. NO 3 HAS 3 HOOPS OF DIA. 2-1/2, 1-7/8 AND 1-3/8. STRUNG WITH SMALL PECTUR [sic] SHELLS."The shells on the rattle are called "Pectur" on the old catalogue card. "Pectur" may be a mistranscription of "Pecten". In support of this, note that James G. Swan in a July 10, 1864 letter in the accession file refers to these rattles as made of scallop shells.
Item History
- Made in Washington, USA
- Collected in Washington, USA
- Received from James G. Swan during 1864
What
- Name
- Medicine Rattles
- Identification Number
- E1034-0
- Type of Item
- rattle
Who
- Culture
- Makah
- Received from
- James G. Swan
Where
- Holding Institution
- National Museum of Natural History
- Made in
- Washington, USA
- Collected in
- Washington, USA
When
- Acquisition Date
- during 1864
Other
- Accession Number
- 000494