Yadan (round rattle)
ca. 1940
Round rattles are associated on the Northwest Coast with shamans. Participants in the t’seka Winter Ceremonial are called pépakhula, the Kwakwala word for shaman, denoting its ancient sacred aspects. Martin and others of his generation employed a vivid white as background color. The image appears to be the frontal view of a bird, whose beak turns downward above the mouth.
Wild cherry wood, red cedar bark, paint, twine, cotton
12 1/2 x 9 x 4 1/2 in. (31.75 x 22.86 x 11.43 cm)
Gift of John H. Hauberg
91.1.4
Provenance: Micheal R. Johnson, Seattle, Washington, until 1973; John H. Hauberg, Seattle, Washington, 1973-1991; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Photo: Paul Macapia