Vessel drum; water drum

Water drum, vessel drum. The shell is turned from elm and varnished red. The straight sides taper inwards slightly towards the top. The bottom is closed and the bottom surface is raised slightly to form a shallow circular rim around the outside. A plug of light coloured wood with a flat, slightly flared head is inserted into a hole at the side of the shell. A decorative brass strip with an undulating edge, and punched with circular holes, is secured around the lower rim by metal tacks with heads embossed to represent flowers. The neck-laced membrane is an irregularly shaped piece of buckskin held by a tensioning hoop which fits over the rim. The hoop is wrapped in a yellow ribbon, with a short leather lace securing the ends.