A TLINGIT OYSTERCATCHER RATTLE

Property from THE PRINCE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN COLLECTION OF ESKIMO IVORIES AND NORTHWEST COAST ART Sold to Benefit THE BELLERIVE FOUNDATION

Details

A TLINGIT OYSTERCATCHER RATTLE

With cylindrical handle wrapped in rawhide, the body in the form of an oystercatcher with a long arched neck, on its back two standing sea birds with outstretched wings, behind them and facing the handle, the head of a frog with its front legs projecting forward, the rear legs incised at the other end, two salmon figures in relief at the sides, on the bottom the oystercatcher feet in relief, painted in red and black pigment, the beak restored, 12in. (30.5cm.) long

Provenance

Jacques Kerchache, Paris
Said to have come from the Museum of the American Indian.

Lot Essay

Bill Holm has written a report on this unusual oystercatcher rattle. He believes it to be of maple, and writes, "The sculpture is very good. This is a very beautifully proportioned neck and head. The carving of the head of the bird and the eye structure is very 'old Tlingit' in feel. The same can be said of the frog. The two little birds are also very good. One of them appears to have been carved separately and pegged in place, or else broken off and reattached. The little salmon are also very convincing. I believe it is an old rattle."