Courting flute (siyotanka)
This endblown flute, commonly known as a courting flute, has a cylindrical, hollowed body of red pipestone or catlinite, so named for George Catlin, the American author and painter known for his work in the American West, who mentioned the pipestone quarries in his travelogue of 1835. This unusual example carved from pipestone has lead metal inlays around the circumference of the body near the embouchure hole, a decorative element often found in pipe stems during this time period. With six fingerholes oriented along the front of the flute and four-directional floral designs at the base, this flute represents a sounding mechanism unique to North American Indians, the external duct. The air stream exits the shaft of the flute above the stylized canine saddle, passes through a narrow channel, and splits on the voicing edge below the saddle. Saddles, or blocks as they are sometimes called, are unique to each flute, typically associated with animal companions particular to the maker or owner of an instrument.
Artwork Details
- Title: Courting flute (siyotanka)
- Date: ca. 1850–1900
- Geography: Great Plains, United States
- Culture: Native American (Sioux)
- Medium: Red pipestone (catlinite), lead, Native-tanned leather
- Dimensions: 18 3/4 × 1 1/4 × 2 3/8 in. (47.6 × 3.2 × 6 cm)
- Classification: Aerophone-Blow Hole-end-blown flute (vertical)
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.3371
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Native American (Sioux or Dakota)
19th century
Native American (Apache)
late 19th century
Native American (Cheyenne or Arapaho)
19th century
Mayan
7th–9th century
Thomas Appleton
1830
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.