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Duct whistle
Native American
19th century
Object Place: United States or Canada, Northwest Coast region
Medium/Technique
Red cedar (?)
Dimensions
Length 38 cm, width 7.4 cm, thickness 4.3 cm (Length 14 15/16 in., width 2 15/16 in., thickness 1 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection
Accession Number17.2203
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsMusical Instruments
ClassificationsMusical instruments – Aerophones
DescriptionBottle-shaped body (of oval cross-section) constructed of two hollowed out halves of red cedar (?), bound with strips of cedar bark near each end and just below window. Distal end closed except for small hole at center (diameter 11 mm). Rectangular window with concave lower edge. 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. 6.
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. 6.