Buxic’ (Bird rattle)

ca. 1890

First Nations, Nuu-chah-nulth, Hesquiat or Makah

Bird-shaped rattles are among the most elegant sculptures in the repertoire of central coastal cultures. Living on the Pacific flyway where a wide variety of birds have permanent and temporary residence, artists captured their essential shapes and qualities. This rattle—which may represent a type of gull—would possibly have been used during the important Wolf Ritual or other ceremonial proceedings. The surface is painted with lines and dashes to represent feather textures and the ovoids indicate wing joints.

Alder, sinew, metal tacks, pebbles, paint

17 1/2 x 5 x 5 in. (44.5 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm)

Gift of John H. Hauberg

91.1.24

Provenance: Micheal R. Johnson, Seattle, Washington, until 1971; John H. Hauberg, Seattle, Washington, 1971-1991; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Selections from the Hauberg Collection, August 22, 1985 - March 16, 1986

Published ReferencesThe Spirit Within: Northwest Coast Native Art from the John H. Hauberg Collection, Seattle Art Museum, 1995, pg. 256

Seattle Art Museum respectfully acknowledges that we are on Indigenous land, the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people. We honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present, and future.

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