Context (Auction / Sale)
See letters from the collector, G.T. Emmons to Curator Louis Clarke in the 1933 letter box, with descriptions of and a sketch of a Coast Salish rattle, one of which may be the rattle from the current record. See also letter in 1935 correspondence box re a rattle, which is likely to be this item

Event Date 1933
Author: rachel hand

Context (Acquisition Details)
Collected by Commander George Thornton Emmons
Event Date 1934
Author: rachel hand

Context (Display)
Exhibited: On display in the Northwest Coast case, Maudsley Gallery from 1990- 2012
Event Date 1990
Author: rachel hand

Description (CMS Description)
Rattle made from mountain-sheep horn with an incised design and strands of mountain goat wool cascading from the sides.

As Emmons writes, "On one side is shown in full front face of the Thunderbird, very human, but the bird view indicated by the mouth on each side the two profiles. On the other side the double profile of the Thunderbird in the middle." Good
Event Date 1/1/1993
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
The original European tribal names and, where possible, current tribal names have both been given in separate GLT fields.

Emmons provided detailed information with the rattle in a letter, 04.12.1934. "This is the original ceremonial rattle of the Salish people of the continental shore of British Columbia about the mouth of the Fraser River in the Musqeam Band and the Salish people of the eastern coast of Vancouver Island from Comox to Cowichan including the Comox Nanaimo and Cowichan bands. As I say this was the original proncative rattle of this people. The mountain sheep was and still is a habitant of the more inland mountains beyond the coast range, but in later years the hunting of the sheep was not carried on, so horn could not be obtained, when its place was taken by other materials such as cow' s horn, sheet copper, brass and iron, and rattles of wood of any neighbouring tribes, all of which rattles were hung with the twisted strands of the wool of the Rocky Mountain goat. This decoration too was original with these Salish bands. They wore their ceremonial blankets of like strands of this wool. These rattles were rudely carved and in almost every case the Thunderbird was shown in full front view or profile. The rattle was used at death ceremonies, at potlatches and particularly when giving names to older children and for some old custom they pointed the rattle three times and at birth of child. The rattle was called Schl-mocok-Tux (rattle for hand), the goat' s wool decoration Fai-He. Rattles made of the horn of Rocky Mt. sheep are undoubtedly the rarest kind of rattle on the continent. Judging from the colour, which is naturally white, this specimen is more than 100 years old."

Event Date 1/1/1993
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
From the Coast Salish, Cowichan speakers.
Language details removed from the cultural group field.
Event Date 8/7/2022
Author: rachel hand

Context (Display)
As noted in locations, this rattle was taken off display in 2012 following concerns expressed by a member of the Reciprocal Research Network and discussion with the larger group. However it was determined that the image of the rattle would remain on the public facing database, so that community members know of its existence. The rattle is culturally sensitive and should not be viewed by the public. It is known as a sxelmex'ces rattle (note spelling incomplete). See Rowley 'The Reciprocal Research Network : The Development Process' Museum Anthropology Review 2013: 39)
Event Date 15/9/2023
Author: Anita Herle

Context (Amendments / updates)
As noted by Jordan Wilson and Eliot White-Hill during a 'Fault Lines' research visit in May 2024, the material also includes plant fibres and feathers. Thought to possibly contain human hair. Materials added to record.
Event Date 13/5/2024
Author: Guey-Mei hsu