Pipe Tamper with rattling elements

Unknown

1875–1889 · Wood · Musical Instruments

Carved from a single block of wood, this rare dance tapper represents a trend during the last quarter of the 19th century for re-imagining the traditional enemy effigy victory stick to include features of fashionable Euro-American walking sticks. The pointed end was tapped against a tomahawk blade or other sonorous objects.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1875–1889

Medium

Wood

Culture

Native American (Northern Plains)

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889