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Woman with Barrel-Shaped Drum

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

The barrel-shaped drum may have been introduced to Egypt from the south. Egyptian images often show such drums being played by Nubian or Sudanese soldiers in Egyptian employ. In images dating to before Dynasty XXV (circa 775–653 B.C.), the drummers are always men. This rare three-dimensional image of a female drummer could thus be as early as Dynasty XXV, when women drummers first appeared in reliefs. However, it also has some stylistic parallels with reliefs of the fourth century B.C.

MEDIUM Bronze
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 712-305 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 26 to Dynasty 31
    PERIOD Third Intermediate Period to Macedonian Period
    DIMENSIONS Height: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1992.169
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ward
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Bronze figure of a standing girl holding a drum. Condition: Areas of green corrosion on head, abdomen and in hollows. Nose worn; patina worn away on drum straps and rear of body.
    CAPTION Woman with Barrel-Shaped Drum, ca. 712-305 B.C.E. Bronze, Height: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ward, 1992.169. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.169_wwg8.jpg)
    IMAGE installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation, CUR.1992.169_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Woman with Barrel-Shaped Drum</em>, ca. 712-305 B.C.E. Bronze, Height: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ward, 1992.169. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.169_wwg8.jpg)