Northwest Coast Ceremonial Rattle

Northwest Coast Ceremonial Rattle, 19th century, classic form, carved in two sections, in the form of a spreadwing bird in flight, probably a raven, with cylindrical handle, with a highly abstracted totemic mask on the broad underbelly, with openwork hooked beak in relief and finely incised formline facial details, a shaman reclining on the bird's back, with upraised, angular body and limbs, with a long-beaked bird, from the back, with small frog in its beak, the long tongue protruding into the mouth of the "spirit helper" laying before him, the large bird's head with long, open beak, with elongated oval eye framed slightly recessed and with pointed oval eye rims and darkened pupils, green, black and red pigments, (all but one of the tail feathers missing), lg. 12 1/8 in.

Provenance: Private collection, New Hampshire.
Estimate $10,000-15,000

Items may have wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.