Raven Rattle

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Photograph by Dave Revette.
Raven Rattle
Photograph by Dave Revette.
Datec. 1850-75
MediumWood with paint
DimensionsOverall: 13 × 4 1/2 × 5 in. (33 × 11.4 × 12.7 cm)
Credit LineBequest of William G. Roehrick, Class of 1934, H1971
Object number1996.15.32
Not on view
DescriptionWood rattle carved on all sides with painted decoration in black, red and blue-green. Yehl, the raven, was the chief mythological figure of the Northwest Coast. The bird figure on the belly area is hawk, in this instance shown in association with a frog. More commonly the frog is shown on the top, held in the beak of the kingfisher, transferring power to the reclining human. Elihu Root was presented with the rattle as a state gift, likely during his service as U.S. Secretary of War between 1899 and 1904, or U.S. Secretary of State between 1905 and 1909.

Additional Details

Exhibition History 2007
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Highlights from the Permanent Collection," February 19 - April 15, 2007 (no cat.);

2006
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Selections from the Permanent Collection," January 16- December 30, 2006 (no cat.);

2005
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Hamilton Collects: A Century of Curiosities: The Story of the Hamilton College Collection," September 29 - December 30, 2005 (unnumbered cat.);

1985
Clinton, NY (Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College). "Wonderful Heroes, Fearsome Creatures," November 2 - December 14, 1985 (cat. no. 18, illus. 29).
Provenance 1996: Hamilton College (Fred L. Emerson Gallery), by bequest of William G. Roehrick, Jr.
by 1956 - 1996: William G. Roehrick, Jr., by gift or bequest from Edward W. Root;
by 1937 - by 1956: Edward W. Root, by gift or bequest from Elihu Root;
date unknown - by 1937: State gift to Elihu Root.
Published References Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College, WONDERFUL HEROES FEARSOME CREATURES: ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST (Clinton, NY, Fred L. Emerson Gallery, Hamilton College; 1985) 29; illus., 29.
Raven dance rattle
Date: 1850-75
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.472
Mendicant netsuke
Unknown artist, Japanese
Date: 19th century
Medium: Boxwood
Object number: 1992.16
Model Totem Pole
Date: 1875-1900
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.509
Photograph by John Bentham.
Date: c. 1880-1900
Medium: Wood with abalone
Object number: 1984.508
Photograph by John Bentham.
Date: c. 1850-75
Medium: Wood with paint
Object number: 1984.471
A Burden He Has to Shoulder, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published October 24, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.256
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Thomas Nast
Date: published April 10, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.279
Thomas Nast
Date: published August 27, 1883
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 1944.1.15
Photo by John Bentham.
Unknown artist
Date: after 1850
Medium: Cast plaster with pigment
Object number: S2023.3.1-3
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Thomas Nast
Date: published March 20, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.276
J.G.B. Jun., In His Property-Room, from "Harper's Weekly"
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 25, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.304
Shall Teachers; Salaries be Lowered?, from Harper's Weekly
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 19, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.265