Rattle

Museum number:
2-19094
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21020019094
Accession number:
Acc.854
Description:
Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.
Donor:
Ellinor C. Davidson and George Davidson
Collection place:
Alaska
Verbatim coll. place:
Alaska
Culture or time period:
Tlingit
Collector:
unknown
Collection date:
unknown
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Musical rattles
Accession date:
1945
Context of use:
Used by chief, in full regalia, in ritual of putting up totem pole, name-giving ceremony, peace-making settlement, etc. Only one raven rattle can be used at a given ceremony." (fide Charles Brown).
Department:
Native US and Canada (except California)
Dimensions:
length 38 centimeters
Comment:
Photo: 15-18604-05. Published: "The Alaska Native Arts Come Home" by Erna Gunther, Centennial Exposition catalog, May 27-September 30, 1967, Fairbanks, Alaska, p. 33. Tlingit name: "sey-sux" (rattle). Exhibited: Centennial Exposition, May 27-September 30, 1967, Fairbanks, Alaska. Fide Charles Brown: "Alder wood treated by boiling 12 hrs. in water and animal oil with a little salt to prevent warping. Made by men." For identification of hawk and sparrowhawk carvings, see "Indian Art in America", pl. 82, F.J. Dockstader, London: Studio Books, 1961. V.M. Fredrickson says bird head behind human figure's legs is eagle; human with frog may represent shaman and a spirit.
Loans:
S1951-1952 #1: University of California, Los Angeles (March 15, 1952–returned by 1957), S1952-1953 #2: California Palace of the Legion of Honor (dates unknown), S1955-1956 #2: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Michael J. Harner (October 19, 1955–October 19, 1955), S1963-1964 #91: Haida-Tlingit Organization, Oakland (May 30, 1964–June 1, 1964), S1966-1967 #89: University of Alaska, Fairbanks (April 17, 1967–October 2, 1967), S1968-1969 #128: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Nelson H.H. Graburn (May 29, 1969–May 29, 1969), S1970-1971 #15: Art Department (UC Berkeley)/Jane Dwyer (August 17, 1970–August 17, 1970), S1970-1971 #16: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Jane Dwyer (August 17, 1970–August 17, 1970), S1972-1973 #34: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Nelson H.H. Graburn (November 14, 1972–November 14, 1972), S1973-1974 #49: University Art Museum (UC Berkeley) (November 4, 1973–August 8, 1974), S1974-1975 #41: Palo Alto Cultural Center (January 6, 1975–March 19, 1975), S1976-1977 #28: Music Library (UC Berkeley) (November 19, 1976–May 9, 1977), S1977-1978 #2: Music Library (UC Berkeley) (July 27, 1977–October 6, 1977), S1979-1980 #48: University of California, Davis (April 1, 1980–June 9, 1980), S1987-1988 #8: Monterey Museum of Art (August 21, 1987–November 25, 1987), and S1994-1995 #9b: SFO Museum (May 5, 1995–June 12, 1995)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 2 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 3 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 4 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 5 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 6 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 7 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 8 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Hearst Museum object 9 of 9 titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Rattle, accession number 2-19094, described as Totemic wooden rattle in raven form, human being on back with frog on his stomach and hawk head behind his legs, raven "ears" connect with head of human figure, sparrow hawk carving on underside; alder; painted red, blue, and black. Frog sitting on human figure is sticking its tongue into mouth of human. Raven head with frog in mouth refers to a myth where raven took frog in its mouth and descended to the depths of the sea, frog acting as lungs for raven. Raven, frog and wood identified by Charles Brown.

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