Rattle- Gourd Dance 18″

This Rattle-Gourd Dance 18″ demonstrates the skilled application of traditional beadwork. The maker fashioned the rattle from a metal shaker and mounted it on wooden dowel handles. Both handles feature finely executed Peyote Stitch beadwork on tubular beaded sections adorned with geometric designs. The artist selected 11/0 cut seed beads in shades of blue, green, red, yellow, orange, and white, to create the design.

At the top of the rattle, a cluster of 5″ pheasant feathers emerges from a section of otter fur. Twisted tassels measuring 5.5″ in length hang from both handles, contributing decorative detail to the piece. The smaller Handle has a small piece of otter fur at the top where it would attach to the rattle.

The rattle measures approximately 20″ in length, excluding the 5.5″ tassels. The beaded sections on the longer handle measure 4.5″ at the lower end and 1″ at the upper end, while the beaded section on the shorter handle measures 5″ long. This handcrafted work reflects both technical skill and artistic expression through its careful use of color, materials, and traditional beadwork techniques.