Across North America, Indigenous ceremonial practices are closely tied to the use of rattles, and First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast are known for producing some of the most diverse and intricately crafted rattles on the continent. Despite their varied styles and materials, Northwest Coast rattles are all based on just two structural principles: either a hollow form filled with small hard pieces, or groups of resonant elements suspended so they collide when shaken.

This uncommon bulbous wood rattle is an excellent early example of the first type, with a smooth handle and the curved join between its two parts visible. It bears comparison to another rattle, lot 124, but here the end of the rattle is topped by the finely carved head of a wolf, rather than a bird.

The sound these rattles create is understood as a pathway to the supernatural realm. Throughout the coastal territories, shamans rely on rattles to heal the sick and to call upon their spirit helpers. And while rattles function as musical instruments, often accompanying songs, their presence always signals a connection to spiritual power, even in dances that primarily express social status.

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