PLAINS INDIAN SHAMAN TURTLE SHELL RATTLE,19th-20th century, possibly Lakota, Sioux. Shell bordered on its edge with an almost translucent thin covering of possibly leather, with horsehair on the top of the shell affixed with a dark blue band to shell. Shell affixed to wood handle with leather straps, to which are affixed two large beads, one white oval (bone(?); the other cream brown (wood (?), affixed by a leather sinew to a round large light brown round bead with a central ridge divider in center, possibly wood or bone, which, in turn is affixed to a piece of horsehair. Central portion of handle is wrapped and encircled with seed beads with symmetrical black and red bands flanking a large central wrapped yellow panel/field of seed beads with a decorative cross made of black, green and red seed beads. Bottom portion is wrapped with leather straps with a piece of horsehair appended thereto. At bottom of handle is a curved grip for the handle made out of a horn, affixed to the handle by leather straps. - 20 in. long. Estimate $400-600
