rattle

rattle

rattle

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Introduction

A rawhide rattle with a wooden handle. Probably Santee Sioux (Eastern Dakota). Collected by G.C. Beltrami in Wisconsin in 1823. Beltrami's collection catalogue states that around 1856, Beltrami's nephew donated several objects to the Civic Library of Bergamo, which were later transferred to the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali, its current location.

Nation of Maker: Sioux
Nation of Origin

The author of the Beltrami Collection catalogue, Leonardo Vigorelli, attributed this item to the "Santee Sioux." The Santee Sioux are also known as the Eastern Dakota

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation.

Materials

leather; rawhide; wood; sinew; porcupine quills

Techniques or Format

The rattle's top is made of rawhide, sewn with sinew and attached to a leather handle wrapped in rawhide. Attached to the top of the rattle is a tassel made of leather thong wrapped with porcupine quills at intervals (many of the quills have fallen off).

Original and Subsequent Uses

This may be a war rattle.

Dimensions: 16 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: Fair.
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: grasac_1524
Collection at Current Location: Collezione Beltrami
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1850s
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: The Civic Library of Bergamo
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1823
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by G.C. Beltrami from Wisconsin in 1823. Beltrami's collection catalogue states that around 1856, Beltrami's nephew donated several objects to the Civic Library of Bergamo, which were later transferred to the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali.

Exhibition History

The Beltrami Collection was exhibited in Florence in 1929 during the "Prima Esposizione Nazionale di Storia delle Scienze" (First National Exposition of History of Sciences"). In 1973, during a celebration of the Beltrami exhibit, Glauco Luchetti donated three objects from his own collection, which were located in Beltrami's last house in Filottrano, to the "Museo Civico E. Caffi". In 1987 the collection was used in the exhibit entitled "Missisippi 1823. Oggetti indiani raccolti da G. Costantino Beltrami" in the Galleria Lorenzelli in Bergamo.

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

The Beltrami Collection catalogue. Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami (p.34).

Sources to Learn More

Leonardo Vigorelli, Gli Oggetti indiani raccolti da G.Costantino Beltrami, Civico Museo E. Caffi, Bergamo, 1987.

GKS Reference Number: 25337
Record Creation Context

This record was created by Emanuela Rossi after a trip funded by GRASAC to the Museo Civico E. Caffi in Bergamo, Italy in October 2008.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researcher present: Emanuela Rossi.

Approximate Place of Origin

42.7113, -97.8423

Source of Information about Places

In the Beltrami Collection Catalogue, the author, Leonardo Vigorelli, defines "Upper Mississippi" as the Cultural Area of Origin. He defines "Northern Plains" as the Geographic Area.