Drum Circle thumbnail 1
Drum Circle thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Drum Circle

ca. before 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Circular carved wooden frame, the rim fringed with red, green and yellow cotton/felt, serrated edges. Suspended from this are seventeen small drums, wood with parchment heads and graduated in size and an inner frame with nine small gongs attached.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 5 parts.

  • Drum and Cymbal Circle
  • Cymbal
  • Drum
  • Drum
  • Cymbal
Materials and techniques
Wood, cotton textile, skin and pigment.
Brief description
Amalgamated miniature representation of two Burmese musical instruments a hsaing-waing (drum circle) and a kyi-waing (gong circle). Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). Circular, with seventeen small drums and an inner frame with nine small gongs attached. Carved wooden frame, the rim fringed with red, green and yellow cotton/felt, serated edges. ca. before 1880
Physical description
Circular carved wooden frame, the rim fringed with red, green and yellow cotton/felt, serrated edges. Suspended from this are seventeen small drums, wood with parchment heads and graduated in size and an inner frame with nine small gongs attached.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15cm
  • Circular frame diameter: 29cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Transliteration
Production
Attribution note: "This is a miniature "toy" model of a hsaing-waing (drum circle) and a kyi-waing (gong circle). In their standard size they would have formed two separate items in a traditional Burmese orchestra.
The drums of the hsaing-waing would have hung inside the circular frame and would have been played by a man standing in the middle. The large drum would be placed alongside and played by a second man.
Similarly the gongs would have been set around the inside of the kyi-waing and played by a man sitting in the middle". Comments from U kyaw Zan Tha; Cultural Attache from the Burmese Embassy; London 1995
Collection
Accession number
05159:1/(IS)

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Record createdMay 14, 2001
Record URL
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