Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States. If you live outside of the USA and you bid/win, your bid will be cancelled. Please bid accordingly.

Native American, Northwest Coast, Inuit, Tlingit, ca. 20th century CE. A fabulous, hand-carved wood rattle in the form of a wolf biting a salmon painted in vibrant pigments. The salmon swims forward, his long body forming the handle, while the wolf's hollow head is filled with seeds and beads to create a rattling sound when shaken. Rattles like this example were used by shamans to commune with spirits or for dancing ceremonies. The animal displayed on the instrument, such as this wolf, perhaps symbolizes the powers of or gifts given to the user. Size: 18.5" L x 3.3" W x 4" H (47 cm x 8.4 cm x 10.2 cm)

Please note this item falls under the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act and is not eligible for international shipping. Native American, Alaska Native, & Native Hawaiian objects are only eligible to ship within the United States.

Provenance: private Don Phelps collection, owner Todos Santos Trading Post, Alamo, California, USA, before 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#180165

Signed "A" on underside of wolf snout. Some small nicks in areas, but otherwise, intact and excellent. Still functions as a rattle. Great preservation of pigments. Suspension hook on underside of wolf head.