Clapper
Life Story
This small clapper is a simple, finely carved example of this rare form of musical instrument. Both sides of the globular sound box are carved with formline designs, resembling faces, which are encircled by a panel of fluted carving. This fluting is often associated with the depiction of the cockle shell or other kinds of shell fish, such as the chiton (see Holm and Reid, 1975: 202), and this may have been the carver’s intention here.
Beasley’s label attribution to the Haida does not seem to be based on collection information, and as the pale turquoise colour is often found on Tlingit material, this clapper may be from farther north. The two halves are fixed together by two wooden pegs through the handle; one of the arms has been broken and glued.
Steven Hooper, 1997
Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection, Vol. 2: Pacific, African and Native North American Art, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997) p. 281.
Exhibitions
'Empowering Art: Indigenous Creativity and Activism from North America's Northwest Coast', Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, 12/3/23 - 30/7/23
Provenance
Collected by Captain Edmund Hope Verney, H. M. S Grappler, in the Pacific in 1864.
Formerly in the collection of Harry Beasley, who purchased it from Sir Harry Verney, Bart., Steeple Claydon, Bucks.
Purchased by the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia from Arbutus Limited on the advice of Robert Sainsbury in 1980 out of income from the Sainsbury Purchasing Fund.
Not on display
Title/Description: Clapper
Measurements: h. 159 x w. 50 x d. 40 mm
Accession Number: 727
Historic Period: Mid 19th century
Credit Line: Purchased with support from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1980
