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."

From card: "Carved and painted wood representing a killer whale."

FROM CARD: "CARVED WOOD RATTLE NOT PAINTED. DESIGN: AN EAGLE'S BODY, HEAD AND NECK. THE TAIL A GROTESQUE HUMAN MASK."Anthropology catalogue ledger book identifies Catalogue #s E20827 and E20911 as Swan original # 61. List in accession file identifies # 61 as "1 box containing complete outfit of an Indian medicine man, Hannegan Indians, Klawark village, P. of Wales Island, Alaska." Catalogue Nos. E20828 - 38 may be related objects?

FROM CARD: "CARVED WOODEN RATTLE. DESIGN: A BIRD ON ITS BACK IS A CARVED HUMAN FIGURE AND AN ANIMAL."

Provenience note: collection apparently purchased or collected by McLean in Sitka and vicinity circa 1884.