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Catalog Data

Collector:
Edward Verry  Search this
Donor Name:
United States Exploring Expedition  Search this
Length - Object:
43 cm
Width - Object:
16 cm
Height - Object:
20 cm
Object Type:
Rattle
Place:
Northwest Coast, United States (not certain) / Canada (not certain), North America
Accession Date:
1858
Collection Date:
1841
Notes:
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."
Record Last Modified:
14 Apr 2020
Specimen Count:
1
Topic:
Ethnology  Search this
Accession Number:
66A00050
USNM Number:
E2668-0
See more items in:
Anthropology
Data Source:
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3fcc63065-8483-4390-b1b2-de088217e158
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_8378602