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Duct whistle
Native American
19th century
Object Place: United States or Canada, Northwest Coast region
Medium/Technique
Red cedar (?), spruce root
Dimensions
Length 32.2 cm, width 4.6 cm, thickness 4 cm (Length 12 11/16 in., width 1 13/16 in., thickness 1 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.2201
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsMusical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Aerophones
DescriptionCylindrical body (of oval cross-section) constructed of two hollowed out halves of red cedar (?), bound with strips of split spruce root near each end. Distal end closed. Seams sealed with pitch. Painted decoration comprised of red and black geometric (?) designs. U-shaped window and oval embouchure hole. Sounds pitch of f'.
ProvenanceBy 1903, Francis W. Galpin (b. 1858 - d. 1945), Hatfield Regis, England [see note]; 1916, sold by Francis W. Galpin to William Lindsey (b. 1858 - d. 1922), Boston; 1916, gift of William Lindsey to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 5, 1916)
NOTE: F. W. Galpin, "The Whistles and Reed Instruments of the American Indians of the North-West Coast," Proceedings of the Musical Association, 29th sess. (1902-1903): pl. I, fig. 1.
NOTE: F. W. Galpin, "The Whistles and Reed Instruments of the American Indians of the North-West Coast," Proceedings of the Musical Association, 29th sess. (1902-1903): pl. I, fig. 1.