Oyster Catcher Rattle
Tlingit
1 of 7
Object Label
Rattles are shaken by a shaman over an afflicted person’s body or left with the patient for protection. This example depicts a long-billed bird called an oyster catcher, thought to be a transformative animal because it lives in the sky yet dives beneath the water for sustenance. Riding on the bird’s back is a shaman who is being transformed into a land otter with a long tail terminating in a horned monster face. The bird’s webbed feet are carved on the underside of the rattle.
Caption
Tlingit. Oyster Catcher Rattle, late 19th century. Wood, abalone shell, 9 x 13 x 5 in. (22.9 x 33 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 05.273. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Oyster Catcher Rattle
Date
late 19th century
Geography
Possible place made: Koskimo, British Columbia, Canada
Medium
Wood, abalone shell
Classification
Dimensions
9 x 13 x 5 in. (22.9 x 33 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Brooklyn Museum Collection
Accession Number
05.273
Frequent Art Questions
To create the sounds that each instrument makes, were the actual instruments on display used or were replicas made?
The sounds were sourced from soundtracks of similar types of instruments being played such as Dale Olsen’s Music of El Dorado and Peyote songs from the Smithsonian’s Folkways Records.What kind of instrument is this?
That is an Oyster Catcher Rattler made by a Tlingit artist. "Oyster catcher" refers to the type of bird that the rattle is shaped like. It would have been shaken over the body of an ill person in a healing ritual.Tell me more.
This Tlingit rattle is in the form of an oyster catcher, which was thought to be a transformative animal because it lives in the sky yet dives beneath the water for sustenance.Take notice of the inlaid abalone shell used to highlight the eye and a couple places on the body. Such a wonderfully delicate touch.You'll also notice that their is a figure on the back of the bird, thought to be a shaman, which is appropriate since the rattle would be shaken by a shaman over the body of a sick person to heal them.How do you play the Oyster Catcher Rattle?
The rattle is shaken and small pieces inside create noise. It's a percussion instrument, like a maraca.
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