Explore

Showing results

Hide images

Hourglass drum; otsuzumi

?tsuzumi, double membrane hourglass shaped drum. The shell (known as a do) has a long narrow waist and convex bowl-shaped sections at each end. The surface of the body is lacquered black with gold rope patterns. The membranes (kawa) of cow hide, which are much wider than the ends of the shell, are stitched into concealed hoops, . A wide, red rope (shirabeo) is laced through holes in six places in the membranes, forming V-shaped patterns around the body. A further section of red rope (koshime) encircles the lacing at the waist of the body.

  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:gold, lacquer, animal fibre, wood, vegetable fibre, metal, hide
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:211.242 Double-skin hourglass-shaped drums
  • Repository:Horniman Museum and Gardens
  • Measurements:overall: 305 x 235 mm