Rattle Item Number: A3793 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Painted wood rattle held together with metal nails and having strands of commercial black wool representing hair while a handle forms the lower jaw. The white face has circular black eyes outlined by a tapering oval surrounded by a green area with black brows above outlined by orange-red and extending downward to a sideways double u form at either outer side of the eyes. The nostrils are orange-red and there are orange-red dashes across the cheeks. The open, downward turned, orange-red mouth shows white teeth with curved line that has perpendicular lines across it. At either side of the mouth, there is a pair of orange-red u forms within a black one side-by-side. Vertical orange-red dashes are at either sides of the handle. The back of the head is painted black with an orange-red n form that has orange-red dashes within its white space.

History Of Use

Were carried and shaken by Hamats!a attendants, solalhala, to calm Hamats!a dancer. (D. Roberts, J. Dick, A. Alfred, 1966)

Iconographic Meaning

Depicts a decapitated head. (D. Roberts, A. Alfred 1966).

Narrative

Made by Dick Price for James Knox (D. Roberts, 1966).

Cultural Context

ceremonial

Item History

What

Name
Rattle
Identification Number
A3793
Type of Item
rattle
Material
wood, wool fibre, paint and metal
Manufacturing Technique
carved and painted
Overall
height 36.0 cm, width 17.0 cm, depth 21.0 cm

Who

Culture
Kwakwaka'wakw
Creator
Dick Price (Maker)
Previous Owner
James Knox
Received from
James Knox (Seller) and H. R. MacMillan (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
British Columbia, Canada
Collected in
Fort Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and Tsaxis, British Columbia, Canada

When

Creation Date
before 1936
Ownership Date
before April 1952
Acquisition Date
during April 1952

Other

Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 35
Accession Number
1858/0005