Rattle Date Unknown

This is a rattle of unknown origin, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. A striking vertical composition, the rattle is divided into distinct segments: the handle, a gourd, and tassels, each contributing to its function and symbolism. Note how the structure is bound by the linear progression of the staff that pierces through the spherical mass. The contrasting textures, from the smooth, polished gourd to the coarse, fibrous tassels, hint at a deeper semiotic structure. Beads create bands of pattern that might serve as visual cues related to the instrument's significance. We might ponder how this artifact challenges fixed meanings. As a sound-producing object, the rattle engages the senses in ways that static visual art cannot, inviting us to consider the performative aspect of art. It serves as an ongoing act of cultural invocation and interpretation.