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Ceremonial singer's collar (hatáálíí or zéédéeltsooz)

Native American, Diné [Navajo]
1875–1900
Object Place: New Mexico, United States, Southwest

Medium/Technique Badger skin, otter skin, bone
Dimensions Length 81cm, width 24 cm (Length 31 7/8 in., width 9 7/16 in.)
Credit Line Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number1984.322
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsMusical instrumentsAerophones

DescriptionOval-shaped collar of badger skin with strip of otter skin sewn down center of each side. Tied at each side is single whistle of eagle bone with V-shaped window. Duct block formed of pitch. Whistle at proper right wrapped with red, green, and black yarn. Whistle at proper left wrapped with red, green, orange, dark blue, dark purple, white, and black yarn. Tied with leather at lower proper right side is double eagle-claw "nazha." Tied with leather at lower proper left side is leather "medicine" pouch (probably containing bits of turquoise, abalone shell, white shell, and coal).

ProvenanceSold by Robert Gallegos, Albuquerque, NM, to Douglas Deihl, Northampton, MA; 1984, sold by Douglas Deihl to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 13, 1984)