Image: Hawk Littlejohn Rattlesnake Totem Carving

Description: The “Totem” for this flute is a hand-carved, triangular-shaped Rattlesnake Head. This Rattlesnake Totem head has a neck and penetrating eyes made from flecked stone or color-faceted glass. The triangular-shaped head is common to all fanged snakes. This flute’s snake head and neck contain carved scales to represent the keeled scales naturally found on rattlesnakes. Just below the carved nostrils is the centered indentation split toward the snake’s upper lip. At the base of the snake's carved neck is a ringed base of turquoise that transitions the snake's neck into a piece of dark hardwood. This same dark hardwood can also be found in the “End Cap” located at the “Mouthpiece” of this flute. The purpose of this Totem’s hardwood base is to cover the sound hole and direct air blown in from the “Mouthpiece,” or, “Mouth Pipe.” The Totem’s position, which may be shifted for tuning purposes - is usually removable for the cleaning, drying, and repair of the flute's “nest” and air chambers. The Totem is often imbued with symbolic power of the carved life form. Technically, the Totem is crucial for creating the tone, or, sound of the flute. Other terms for the “Totem” are, “Block,” “Bird,” “Stop Piece,” “Fetish,” or, “Saddle.”
Title: Hawk Littlejohn Rattlesnake Totem Carving
Credit: Own work
Author: Williamwaterway
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Attribution Required?: Yes