Cast bronze pazi (frog drum), made by the Shan for the Karens. Mortar shaped with a pair of double looped handles. Featuring frogs and elephants in high relief together with birds, fish, rosettes and geometric designs, Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885), 1800-1893

Drum of distinctive cylindrical, flattened, mushroom shaped.

The flat top is ornamented with a 12-point star surrounded by concentric rings containing various geometric patterns. At four points near the edge three frogs are shown on each others backs in high relief. The side is ornamented with conventional patterns. At each of the two opposite points of the drum is placed a pair of handles for suspension while being played. Starting from one of the pairs is a vertical row of various animals in high relief.

Purchased from Messrs. Procter and Co, Indian Art Gallery, 428 Oxford Street

Historical significance: These drums have a long history. Thought to have auspicious properties they were used on a variety of courtly, monastic and military occasions. They were also highly valued as gifts.

The Indian Art Gallery or Procter & Co. provided the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford with objects from around 1875. According to the Pitt Rivers Museum database, nothing further is known of them except that they set up workshops in India to produce artefacts for the London market.

Purchased from Messrs. Procter and Co, Indian Art Gallery, 428 Oxford Street. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

Bronze drums of this type were used among the non-Buddhist Karen as a device to assure prosperity by inducing the spirits to bring rain. The Karen also used them in other rituals such as funerals, marriages and house-entering ceremonies.

When played, the drums were strung up by a cord to a tree limb or a house beam so that the tympanum hung at 45° angle. The musician placed his big toe in the lower set of lugs to stabilize the drum while striking the tympanum with a padded mallet.

The Buddhist kings of Burma and Thailand however used the bronze drums as musical instruments to be played at court and as appropriate gifts to Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Attribution note: It is known that throughout the 19th century these bronze drums were cast by Shan craftsmen at Ngwe-daung, 13 kilometres south of Loi-kaw, capital of Kayah State. They were subsequently traded to Karens and other peoples in South East Asia

IS.18-1894