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Drum

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Skull drum (r.Na.chun) formed of two roughly-carved human skull caps, set with imitation (glass) turqoises. Drum skins of parchment, holding band of brown cotton fabric, striking strings of cord with wax pellets.
Hourglass shape, carved with two bands composed of eight repetitions of the two Ranja characters (see Register), separated by masks of the Citipati ghouls with turqoise eyes. Round the waist is a band of brown cotton, ending in a loop handle. Attached to this band are the striking strings.


Object details

Object type
Materials and techniques
Human bone, wax, glass, parchment and cotton
Brief description
Drum, human skull; Tibet, C19
Physical description
Skull drum (r.Na.chun) formed of two roughly-carved human skull caps, set with imitation (glass) turqoises. Drum skins of parchment, holding band of brown cotton fabric, striking strings of cord with wax pellets.
Hourglass shape, carved with two bands composed of eight repetitions of the two Ranja characters (see Register), separated by masks of the Citipati ghouls with turqoise eyes. Round the waist is a band of brown cotton, ending in a loop handle. Attached to this band are the striking strings.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6in
  • Width: 6.75in
Credit line
Given by O. Marriage, Esq.
Object history
Given by O. Marriage, Esq. Register entry 21 February 1922.
Other numbers
  • RP 1922/720 - RF number
  • RP 1922/1091 - RF number
Collection
Accession number
IM.13-1922

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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