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Drum

Arts of the Pacific Islands

CULTURE Iatmul
MEDIUM Wood, snake skin, coir, pigment
DATES early 20th century
DIMENSIONS 24 1/2 x 6 x 7 in. (62.2 x 15.2 x 17.8 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 87.218.12
CREDIT LINE Gift of Marcia and John Friede and Mrs. Melville W. Hall
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Hollow wooden drum in shape of slender hourglass with upper aperture covered in skin. Centered on side of drum, large bird, carved in high relief with pierced beak and tail feather. Lower half has bas-relief pattern of stylized spirals on rough, matte black surface with filled-in red pigment. From catalogue card: Drum of slender hourglass form in hollowed wood. Rough, matte black surface bears on lower half a bas-relief pattern of stylized spirals filled with red pigment. Large bird, with pierced beak and tail feathers is carved in high relief and is centered on the side of the drum. Skin covers upper aperture. Condition: Skin tympanum desiccated; deep crack in lower part below bird motif; surface cracks in lower part; deep crack in upper section.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Iatmul. Drum, early 20th century. Wood, snake skin, coir, pigment, 24 1/2 x 6 x 7 in. (62.2 x 15.2 x 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Marcia and John Friede and Mrs. Melville W. Hall, 87.218.12. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 87.218.12.jpg)
IMAGE side, 87.218.12.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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