DCM 0235: Anonymous, North American Indian (Apache) Whistle

A unique piece of high relief folk carving depicting an unidentified reptile (possibly a horned toad) apparently climbing a tree trunk or branch.
Instrument type: Whistle
Medium: Unidentified hard wood, stained brown, feather.; 3 cm.
Key Holes System: 0/1 hole.
Mark Maximum: No mark.
Condition: An original leather thong and feather (noted by DCM) now missing. DCM ledger: "Apache Tribe."
Provenance: George R. Moore, Jamesville, Wisconsin, 11 Feb. 1922.

The Dayton C. Miller collection in the Library of Congress, contains nearly 1,700 flutes and other wind instruments, statuary, iconography, books, music, trade catalogs, tutors, patents, and other materials mostly related to the flute. It includes both Western and non-Western examples of flutes from around the world, with at least 460 European and American instrument makers represented. Items in the collection date from the 16th to the 20th century.