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Barrel drum

Barrel drum, with a single membrane. The shell is hollowed from a length of heavy, dark wood. The lower part of the shell is carved with four bands of parallel lines. The lines in the two outer bands are vertical, and the angled inner lines form a series of chevrons. The base is divided into three feet by triangular notches. There are two small holes approximately 9mm in diameter, roughly 20mm. from the base, possibly for a support for the instrument. The head is lapped over a narrow concealed hoop. The upper cone of the drum is plain, carved with 7 holes for the large pegs securing the twisted vegetable fibre bracing, which passes through holes in the skin to tension it. One of the pegs is smaller with a head of a different shape; it may perhaps be a replacement.

  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:vegetable fibre, hide, wood
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:211.221.1 Individual single-skin barrel drums
  • Repository:Horniman Museum and Gardens
  • Measurements:overall: 23.8189 x 16.5354 in.; 605 x 420 mm