Northwest Coast
Northwest Coast – ‘Tlingit’

Wood, leather, abalone, kernels, pigment
ca. Mid 20th century
Length: 10.5 in, Width: 4 in
Idiophones – Indirectly Struck – Rattle

Signed ‘Cyot’ logo for Ivan Otterlifter

A Northwest Coast ‘Face’ Rattle made by Ivan ‘Cyot’ Otterlifter (Sherk) (1936-1999).  This hand carved wooden rattle shows a face with tongue extended (sign of a death rattle), wide eyebrows, five claws (bear paw) extending from the top of the head, and inserted abalone eyes.  The nostrils, five bear claws,  lips, and tongue are painted red, while the eyebrows are black, and the face is a dark turquoise.

Ivan (‘Cyot’) Otterlifter was a member of the Cherokee nation who was adopted by the Tlingit and made artwork in the Pacific Northwest tradition.