This is an early 20th century ceremonial rattle recently purchased from a private collection.  It is from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and is hand made of brown hide leather and drilled cowrie shells. The handle is wrapped with woven and braided leather with a red velvet covered knob on the top. The body of the rattle is made of strings of drilled cowrie shells with leather strips. Inside, it is filled with either more cowrie shells.

 

It measures 6" tall.  The bottom is 3 1/2" across.

Condition: There is wear and natural patina from ceremonial usage. Several of the decorative leather strips on the body of the rattle are missing. There is a lot of wear of the velvet. One of the strips of cowrie bead is loose from the body of the rattle--see close up photos.

We purchased the collection of late 19th and early 20th century Nigerian artifacts collected between approx. 1950-70. There are over 50 pieces with a focus on ceremonial, ritual and spiritual tools and also a collection of West African currency manilla bracelets. Many are rare museum quality pieces including Ifa Divination tools, cowrie shrines and fetishes and Eshu figures.

Be sure to check my listings for the other pieces from the same collection. All the pieces have been privately held for the last 60+ years by the original collectors and are offered here for sale for the first time.

Provenance will be provided to the winning buyer if requested.