As usual, there are many things in this latest group of finds I'd be happy to keep for myself, and this is very much one of them--a c. late 19th century Native American parfleche (hide) rattle decorated with red and blue paint with carved wooden handle and what I believe are a handful of dried beans inside, making for a gentle rattle. The dealer I purchased it from believed most likely Northern Plains; I am no expert, but have done a little research and would guess the same. For me, it is so much about the intimacy of the object, made I believe for a child (photo included of another example), to be held in the hand and shaken, which clearly it has been many many times. This sense of intimacy is very much compounded by the the hand-painted decoration--a drawing across each face--feeling designed to engage at close hand rather than to read boldly from a distance. With wonderfully visceral hand-stitching in sinew holding the sides together.
6 1/2" l x 3" widest diameter. General wear and age as evident, all to the good I think, with a hairline split to the wood handle on one side, stable.
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