Hand rattle with a coconut head affrixed to a wooden handle. the coconut has many 1/4 inch holes drilled in it. Contains pebbles. The coconut has been colored dark and covered with a varnish. The handles has been marked with blue "X" patterns on 2 sides. There is a hole at the bottom of the handle, through which a blue commercial thong passes and is knotted (for hanging). A brown thong is tied at the base of the coconut, passing inside of it to secure the coconut to the handle. (This last feature is an innovation devised by Mr. Fish, typically such a lace passes around the outside of the coconut). - from TL file

A more traditional rattle of this style would have used a turtle shell rather than a coconut.
Tags: coconut, Rattle, seeds
People: Possibly Muscogee (Creek) or Euchee
Places: Southeast, Oklahoma
Purpose: ceremonial use

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology