A YADAN or rattle in the shape of a bird, one of a group, carved in cedar, black with green and red markings
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yadan

rattle

We know very little about these rattles. They have a strong resemblance to the rattles of the people from the West Coast of Vancouver Island and may represent a bird called an Oyster Catcher.

Owner

Kwaxala’nukwame’, Amos Dawson, Mamalilikala (Village Island)

Catalogue Information

Materials

Wood, Cedar; Fibre, Cotton; Paint; Adhesive

Dimensions

40.5 cm

Accession Number

80.01.140

Physical Description

Bird rattle carved out of one piece of red cedar and split in two to form its two hollowed-out halves. The two sections are bound with white string on the handle, but also appear to be glued together. Carved in the form of a bird with a head, but no other appendages, the rattle is painted overall (except for the handle) in black, red and blue-green to represent the body, wings and legs. Most of the painted surface has been coated with clear varnish or shellac. Black, green, red, natural wood.