Image: Hawk Littlejohn signature; Snake Totem; mountain-pattern wraps

Description: The Rattlesnake Head Totem in this photograph is “tied,” “strapped,” or “lashed” onto the flute with a leather “strap,” or, “tie.” Besides the functional leather tie that is used to secure the Totem above the flute’s sound hole, many of Hawk Littlejohn’s flutes are adorned with decorative woodland leather wraps presenting a mountain-pattern of sharp peaks and valleys. An example of this Littlejohn carved leather mountain-pattern wrap is depicted to the right and left of this photograph. Hawk Littlejohn’s burned-in signature found on his flutes is sourced from a writing system known as “Cherokee syllabary” that was invented c1820. This syllabary system was invented by a Cherokee named, Sequoyah (a.k.a. George Gist), in order to write and record the Cherokee language, customs, and oral history. This profile photograph also depicts the flute's Rattlesnake Head and neck resting on a turquoise base that transitions to a hardwood sound hole block. In the lower left of this photograph - a portion of Littlejohn's signature braided sweet grass is visible.
Title: Hawk Littlejohn signature; Snake Totem; mountain-pattern wraps
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