The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Raven rattles were used throughout the Northwest Coast by people of high rank. The delicate and elaborate carving of these status objects displays the skills of the maker. The body of one of these rattles usually represents a raven, with the head of a hawk carved on its breast. A reclining figure, possibly a shaman, is carved on the back of the rattle. The figure's tongue is joined to the mouth of a bird or frog - in this example, a frog - possibly signifying a transfer of power from one to the other. This may indicate that it was traditionally a shaman's implement. The most common historical use of raven rattles, however, appears to have been as dance rattles carried by high-ranking individuals wearing frontlet headdresses.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection. Collected: Elizabeth Cole Butler

Museum Purchase: Indian Collection Subscription Fund, Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Art. Collected: Axel Rasmussen

Museum Purchase: Indian Collection Subscription Fund, Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Art.

Museum Purchase: Helen Thurston Ayer Fund.

Carved and painted model totem pole. Pole has an eagle at top, wings at sides, feet planted on a small bentwood box. The box is balanced on the head of a human, with protruding nose and painted features, wearing a shoulder cloak. With his hands and feet the man grips a downward facing whale. The whale has a green and black torso with carved and painted eyes and open mouth showing clenched white teeth behind red lips. Its nose plunges into the pole’s rectangular wooden stand which is painted red and green. The back of the pole has been partially hollowed out.