Haida Portrait Rattle, Haida Gwaii

The Haida Portrait Rattle is a ceremonial object created by Haida artists of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia, representing one of the most sophisticated traditions of Northwest Coast Indigenous art. These intricately carved rattles, typically fashioned from wood, depict human faces or clan crests and were used by chiefs and shamans during potlatches and healing ceremonies. The tradition reflects the Haida people's renowned mastery of sculptural form, symbolic imagery, and spiritual expression dating back centuries.