Blackfoot Hide Rattle

Blackfoot Plains

Last quarter 19th century | Hide, Wood | Item 2103

This Blackfoot rattle, measuring 9 1/4″ long, has a wood handle encased with brain tanned hide. The hide goes from the foot of the rattle to the top where there is a seam showing that there are two pieces joined. The hide is thick and firm. The handle is wrapped with red stroud, added more recent than the original rattle. The rattle makes a good and strong sound as it must be filled with small pebbles. The rattle has two mends to it that are obvious in the photos. One mend shows a hide patch over the hole. The other mend shows old, dark, heavy, hemp thread closing up the hole.