frame drum

Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
General view of whole of Horniman Museum object no M16-1991
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Rear view of whole of Horniman Museum object no M16-1991
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001
Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 General view of whole of Horniman Museum object no M16-1991 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 Rear view of whole of Horniman Museum object no M16-1991 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001 Frontal view of whole of Horniman Museum object no ARC/HMG/CM/007/A/BOSTOND/001

M16-1991

This is a modern Inuit drum from the community of Angmagssalik in Greenland, made in 1991. It is stylistically identical to drums which have been produced in the Arctic for centuries, with a skin made from a polar bears stomach stretched over a driftwood frame. These drums are crucial in Inuit ceremonies, providing a regular rhythmic beat which helps organise the movement and songs necessary to communicate with spirits. They are also used in less ritual moments, to make music as part of the community coming together at important occasions.

Over the centuries the Inuit have adopted many European traditions and materials, but skin drums of this type are still crucial to the Inuit way of life, and still made in traditional ways with traditional materials.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M16-1991
Date
1991
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 492 mm x 395 mm x 50 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood; hide; mammal bone; animal material
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
LOCATION
On display: Horniman Museum > World Gallery > Americas > Arctic - clothing, shamanism and sharing food
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Collection Information

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