Two pieces of wood tied together and carved to represent the body of a bird and having a handle carved out of the same two pieces. The upper portion depicts the head and wings of the bird, the lower portion the breast. The stylized designs on the upper and lower portions are painted in red, black and turquoise. Marks: written on rattle, "by Edward Very, Ex Ex". Note: This object was also listed as a decoy duck and with the collector Edward Verry's name spelled "E. Very" on one of the shipping lists. Publication: "Magnificent Voyagers," by Viola & Margolis, 1985, p. 146. Loaned to Denver Museum 3/15/65. Loaned to Vancouver Art Gallery, 4/18/67 returned 12/13/67. Exhibited in the "Celebrations" exhibit at the Renwick gallery, 1981-82. Exhibited Magnificent Voyagers, National Museum Of Natural History, 1985-86. Exhibited SITES "Magnificent Voyagers," 1987-89.From card: "Carved wood. Design a duck, with partly opened wings. Painted brown, black and green. Two pieces of wood representing the body of a duck without the legs, and having a wooden handle; the upper piece shows the wings, head, etc.; the lower shows the breast; both are hollowed out, the rattles are put inside, and the two fastened together by small leather ties. Painted with stripes and figures of black and dull green on the dark-brown wood. Item has one old hole in it. Loan: Denver Museum 3/15/65. 4/18/67 loaned to Vancouver Art, Gallery, returned 12/13/67. "Carved Wooden Rattle, Ca. 1800-1840 Northwest Coast Indians; British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska wood; sinew; black, red, and blue paint 16.5 x 18.25 x 6.5 (41.9 x 46.3 x 16.5) NMNH 2668; Collected by the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1841. Although this object was originally identified as a water-fowl decoy, it is safe to assume that a chief used it for musical accompaniment on ceremonial occasions. Loaned to Renwick 9/3/81."

A FLAT POUCH, ROUNDED AT THE BOTTOM, SQUARE AT THE TOP, MADE OF BLUE AND RED FELTED CLOTH SEWN ONTO TANNED HIDE. THERE IS BLUE FELT EDGING ALL AROUND. APPLIQUE IN BLUE ON RED AND RED ON BLUE, EACH BORDERED WITH WHITE GLASS BEADS. HAS ORIGINAL PEALE TAG; ALSO OLD SHIPPING TAG READS, "N.W.C. BY E. VERY, EX EX 36 BOX". EXHIBITED MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1985-86.Provenience note, in 1841 Oregon Territory encompassed the land from Russian Alaska to Spanish California and from the Pacific to the Continental Divide. The U.S. Exploring Expedition did not go to Canada, but did reach Oregon Territory in 1841, and carried out a hydrographic survey of the Columbia River from its mouth to the Cascades, as well as doing some surveying inland.They had dealings with Hudson's Bay Company staff during that time, and it is probable that the HBC is the source of a number of the Northwest Coast artifacts collected by the expedition.

CHIEF'S FRONTLET - "CARVED WOODEN CREST BADGE," BEAVER AND HAWK DESIGN. PAINTED GREEN, MAROON, AND BROWN AND INLAID WITH ABALONE SHELL. THERE IS A PIECE OF ABALONE SHELL MISSING FROM MAIN FIGURE'S (THE HAWK'S) LEFT EYE. MARKS) "BY E.(DWARD) VERY EX EX 36 B(OX)", (READ ON MASK UNDER BLACK LIGHT). PUBLICATION: ILLUS. IN BAE ANNUAL REPORT III, PL. XXI, FIG. 47, P. 187. "MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS," BY VIOLA & MARGOLIS, ILLUS. P. 141. EXHIBITED MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1985-86.FROM CARD: "CHIEF'S HEADDRESS. CARVED WOODEN CREST BADGE TO BE ATTACHED TO A HEAD RING. BEAVER AND HAWK DESIGN. INLAID WITH ABALONE SHELL. ILLUS. BAE 3RD ANNUAL REPORT, PL. XXI, FIG. 47, P. 187. [Materials identified there as birch wood, abalone shell, and spruce gum to glue abalone to wood]. ILLUS.: HNDBK. N. AMER. IND., VOL. 4, FIG. 1, P. 376. IDENTIFIED THERE AS PROBABLY TSIMSHIAN."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=501, retrieved 3-31-2012: Frontlet for headdress, Tsimshian of British Columbia, Canada. A chief's headdress - with its frontlet mask, crown of sea lion whiskers and flicker feathers, and long train of ermine pelts - signified his clan, rank, and spiritual powers. He wore it as the host of memorial ceremonies and during initiation ceremonies for the Dancer, Dog Eater, Cannibal, and Destroyer secret societies, named for the mythical beings portrayed by the dancers. The crest emblems on this frontlet are Beaver (above) and Eagle (below). The feathered crown of the headdress (now missing) was filled with eagle down, a symbol of peace that drifted over the crowd as the chief danced.Provenience note, in 1841 Oregon Territory encompassed the land from Russian Alaska to Spanish California and from the Pacific to the Continental Divide. The U.S. Exploring Expedition did not go to Canada, but did reach Oregon Territory in 1841, and carried out a hydrographic survey of the Columbia River from its mouth to the Cascades, as well as doing some surveying inland.They had dealings with Hudson's Bay Company staff during that time, and it is probable that the HBC is the source of a number of the Northwest Coast artifacts collected by the expedition.This object is on loan to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, from 2010 through 2027.