Drum
probably 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker |
This drum was originally used by a drummer with Sanger's Circus and is colourfully decorated because it would have been used to play in Sanger's spectacular street parades which advertised the presence of the circus in town, as well as during performances.
The founder of Sanger's Circus was one of the most flamboyant and best-known circus proprietors of the 19th century, and essentially a showman. The son of a peepshow owner, George (1827-1911) and his brother John began in 1848 by performing at fairs with conjuring tricks and birds and mice before setting up a small tenting circus with a 'learned' pony, a ring horse, a company of nieces and nephews and only three experienced circus performers. By 1887 George Sanger had split with his brother, opened circus buildings in at least ten provincial towns, had a vast tenting show, and called his operation 'Lord' George Sanger's. Despite his death in 1911, Sanger's Circuses survived well into the 20th century with various family-run concerns.
The founder of Sanger's Circus was one of the most flamboyant and best-known circus proprietors of the 19th century, and essentially a showman. The son of a peepshow owner, George (1827-1911) and his brother John began in 1848 by performing at fairs with conjuring tricks and birds and mice before setting up a small tenting circus with a 'learned' pony, a ring horse, a company of nieces and nephews and only three experienced circus performers. By 1887 George Sanger had split with his brother, opened circus buildings in at least ten provincial towns, had a vast tenting show, and called his operation 'Lord' George Sanger's. Despite his death in 1911, Sanger's Circuses survived well into the 20th century with various family-run concerns.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Drum used in Sanger's Circus parades and band. Painted wood with metal fittings and skin membrane |
| Physical description | Drum with one skin, the body made from two strips of wood, possibly beech, with two removable circular wooden rim hoops, each painted with a wavy cream line. The outside of the drum is painted with a black base on which are painted green foliate patterns, a blue shield with the letter S in red, and red strap work edged with cream and painted in gold decorative lettering: SANGER'S CIRCUS BAND. The one remaining skin is clamped to the body of the drum with eight metal bars. Inside the drum are sixteen steel screw heads holding the metal bars in place. There is a sound hole inside the drum, its edges painted black, and inside the drum had been painted, quite faintly in black paint: 'I LOVE GEOFFREY BUTLER x' |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | This drum was originally used by a drummer with Sanger's Circus and is colourfully decorated because it would have been used to play in Sanger's spectacular street parades which advertised the presence of the circus in town, as well as during performances. The founder of Sanger's Circus was one of the most flamboyant and best-known circus proprietors of the 19th century, and essentially a showman. The son of a peepshow owner, George (1827-1911) and his brother John began in 1848 by performing at fairs with conjuring tricks and birds and mice before setting up a small tenting circus with a 'learned' pony, a ring horse, a company of nieces and nephews and only three experienced circus performers. By 1887 George Sanger had split with his brother, opened circus buildings in at least ten provincial towns, had a vast tenting show, and called his operation 'Lord' George Sanger's. Despite his death in 1911, Sanger's Circuses survived well into the 20th century with various family-run concerns. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.345-1981 |
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| Record created | January 31, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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