Scarce 19th c. Native American Basket Rattle
A 19th c. baby basket rattle in original oyster white paint.
Constructed entirely of black ash wood. The body is formed of prepared wood splints and woven with wide vertical wefts. Horizontal wefts are thinner, serving as the building structure when forming from the base upwards, preserving its intended form.
A tall handle is woven into its body and serves well for a babys hand placement when used.
The interior contains noise makers, likely corn or seeds.
Remains in overall very good original condition, free from breakage with a stress fracture in its handle being very consistent with age.
Scarcely found in a solid painted design. Little information exists on three rattles, but it is known that some basketmakers such as Molly Hatchett, a prominent and endearing basketmaker of the late 18th and early 19th c. would weave these rattles and gift them to local newborn babies as tradition.
Eastern Algonquian, possibly Scaticook. Ca. 1850. 5"T.