Gourd rattle with beaded handle / Richard Aitson
Essay/Description
A beaded peyote-style gourd rattle. The handle is wood, covered with buckskin beaded in 3-drop gourd stitch. At the base of the handle are 9 2-ply twisted buckskin fringes. the gourd is colored brown and features 7 inset rhinestones forming the shape of the "big dipper" constellation. The top tassel (above the gourd) is made of rolled leather fitting over a peg carved down from the handle wood. It is also beaded. the tip is of white horse hair surrounded at its base by pink hackle feathers.