Northwest coast Indian rattles highly prized

A recent auction sold a 19th-century carved and painted wooden “raven rattle” made by Northwest Coast Indians. Its shape is very unusual.

Ceremonial rattles like this one tell a story and are valued pieces from the past. The main part of the rattle is shaped like a bird. An Indian with a painted face or a mask is crouching on the bird's back while holding a froglike figure. The Indian's feet are resting on a mask.

The rattle represents the Indian legend of the raven that stole daylight from heaven and took it to the dark world. The man on the pipe represents a shaman initiate who is able to work with the spirit world as well as the visible world.

He holds a frog and draws knowledge from the animal world through the frog's long red tongue. The mask the shaman has at his feet represents the life supported by the sea that adds to the life of man.

An elaborate rattle with carvings usually belonged to a high-ranking member of the tribe. A 19th-century rattle sold at a Skinner auction in Boston for $9,480.



Q: I have a small Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar that's about 8 inches high. It has floral decals on it, but there are no factory marks. Since it is so small, what was it used for? Can you tell me how old it is?

A: Your jar is a cracker jar, not a cookie jar. The well-known Little Red Riding Hood design was patented by Louise Bauer of Zanesville, Ohio, in 1943. Pieces were made by A.E. Hull Co. of Crooksville, Ohio, and decorated by Royal China and Novelty Co., a division of Regal China of Antioch, Ill.

Several different items were made, but the only pieces designed by Bauer herself were the cookie jar and large and small salt and pepper shakers.

Little Red Riding Hood pattern pieces were made from 1943 to 1957. Reproductions have been made since then.

Your cracker jar with decal decorations is worth a surprisingly high $750 to $825. An all-white version with gold trim is even more rare.



Q: I have a factory-sealed box of Roy Rogers Happy Trails Chocolate, Peanut Butter & Trail Mix. The cover is in color, with a photo of Roy in front of a desert background. There's no date on the box, but the candy was made by Colt Inc. of Nashville, Tenn. Any value?

A: You can buy a new box of Happy Trails candy today for $14. Colt still makes it. The company was founded in 1984 by Mackenzie Colt, who was a performer on the TV show “Hee Haw” from 1978 to 1982.

That's where she met Roy Rogers (1911-1998) and his wife, Dale Evans (1912-2001). They loved the candy and were happy to have Roy's name used.

We suggest that if you want to save the box, empty it. Eventually the candy will attract rodents or insects.

Write to Terry Kovel, (The Herald), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.