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Bronze Drum with Flying Flag Pattern

Preserved in good condition. The top surface is cracked open. The upper section of the drum is broken with a small hole in it. Made of bronze, with grey-green colour on the surface. The body of the drum is short and squat and has 4 casting marks. The top surface is smaller than the upper section of the drum, but is extended slightly wider than the neck of the drum. The upper section is decorated with 2 pairs of flat ears. Twelve single-lined or double-lined rings of decreasing size are cast on the top surface of the drum, one inside the other. At the centre, there is a sun with twelve rays and simplified peacock feather “eye” patterns. In addition, there are stud decorations, concentric circle patterns, cord patterns, flying flag patterns (which are the main patterns), thunder patterns, zigzag patterns, and so on. The body of the drum is decorated with 10 patterned bands that include studs, concentric circles, cloud and thunder patterns, multi-line angular shape patterns and so on. The ears have cord patterns on them.

  • Culture:
  • Period:
  • Materials:Bronze
  • Specific materials/techniques:
  • Decorative elements:
  • Inscriptions:
  • Hornbostel-Sachs category:111.24 Percussion vessels
  • Repository:Hunan Museum
  • Measurements:Total height: 26.0cm, diameter of the top surface: 16.0cm, diameter of the upper section: 41.0cm, diameter of the lower section: 46.0cm, thickness of the wall of the drum: 0.5cm, weight: 15.8kg