Southern Alaska and northern British Columbia
Northwest Coast / Tlingit

Wood, pigment, mother-of-pearl, leather, beads
ca. 1970s CE
Length: 17 in, Width: 5.5 in, Depth: 3 in
idiophone – Struck – Indirectly Struck – Rattles

A hand carved and painted Chief’s Raven ‘Dance Rattle’ done in detail with a painted and carved human face on its underside.  This rattle is expertly carved from cedar wood, painted in black, red, and blue with mother of pearl (nacre) inlays for the raven eyes and the underside face that shows a curved under nose.  The handle is covered with leather and decorated with blue beads.  A wonderful piece signed “CYOT,” logo for Ivan Otterlifter (Cherokee/adopted Tlingit, 1936-1999).

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

The Tlingit society considers the Raven to be the central character of creation myths, seen as both trickster and creator.  This transformative raven rattle shows the interaction between beings and the mythologies associated with cultural interpretations of clan relationships.