Tsiitsiito (rattle)

Culture Hiwi Indians Native American

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

The Hiwi shaman's rattle is the principal musical instrument used for healing and divination among the Hiwi. It helps the entranced healer to call upon málike and málikai, spirits who may take the form of birds. The rattle’s carefully incised calabash body has small holes at the cardinal points and contains seeds and magical crystals (wánali stones). The handle features curassow feathers which add to the rattle’s power.

Tsiitsiito (rattle), Hiwi Indians, calabash (Crescentia cujete), wood, curassow feathers (pauxi pauxi), seed and wánali stone, Hiwi

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Tsiitsiito (rattle), Hiwi Indians, calabash (Crescentia cujete), wood, curassow feathers (pauxi pauxi), seed and wánali stone, Hiwi
Tsiitsiito (rattle), Hiwi Indians, calabash (Crescentia cujete), wood, curassow feathers (pauxi pauxi), seed and wánali stone, Hiwi

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