This raven rattle was made by Northwest Coast Indians in the 19th century. The carved and painted wooden rattle is 10 3/4 inches long. It sold for ,480 at Skinner in Boston.

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.