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.
Collections

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.
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