gaak haseex (Raven Rattle)

contemporary art; ceremonial

Rattle made of two pieces of wood that are held together by fibre coiled around handle and stitched through holes at head. Handle is undecorated and has artists initials carved into it. Head is carved into overall raven shape; head of the raven has inlaid shell at eyes and sides of beak; beak is open. Belly has another face with recurved nose in relief and inlaid shell eyes. A third face is at rear of head and has a protruding pointy nose and frowning mouth. A human figure in hard relief is lying on raven's back; he is holding a frog in his hands and their mouths are connected by a red tongue