Ceremonial rattles created to tell stories

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. The rattle makes noise when you shake it.

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

Q: I have a Lane hope chest that my mother got in 1938. It's marked inside "Altavista Va." with serial number 112331 and style number 48388X. Can you tell me when the chest was made?

A: John Lane bought a box plant in Altavista, Va., in 1912. His son, Ed Hudson Lane, soon began making cedar chests in the factory. The business was incorporated as Standard Red Cedar Chest Co. During World War I, the factory was converted to wartime production and made ammunition boxes. In 1922, the name of the company was changed to The Lane Co. The Lane family continued to operate the business until 1986, when Interco took over the company. Lane is now part of Furniture Brands International.

The serial number indicates that your chest was made on Nov. 23, 1931. There is a recall on locks on Lane chests made before 1987. The lock on your cedar chest should be replaced because a child could get trapped inside and suffocate. Contact the company via its Web site, www.LaneFurniture.com, and you will be sent a free replacement lock.

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 and his wife, Dale Evans. 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.

Terry Kovel's column is syndicated by King Features. Write to: Kovels, (Las Vegas Review-Journal), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.