Hand Drum (Thone Or T'One)

FROM CARD: "CENT. EX. ILLUS. IN BULL. 136, USNM, PL. 25-B, P. 138." FROM CARD: "DRUM (THONE) OF THE SIAMESE. SHELL, VASE-SHAPE, GILDED AND INCRUSTED WITH BITS OF GLASS; HEAD, OF SNAKE SKIN, STRETCHED ACROSS THE LARGE END, TIGHTENED BY A LACING OF FINE SPLIT RATTAN. BEATEN WITH THE FINGERS AND THE PALMS OF BOTH HANDS. HEIGHT, 13 1/2 INCHES. BANGKOK, SIAM. 27,307. COLLECTED BY JOHN HALDERMAN [sic]. NEG. NO. 40052-M. KING OF SIAM." FROM CARD: "INVENTORIED 1974. THE SIAMESE DARABOUKA OR VASE DRUM. THE SHELL HAS THE FORM OF AN INVERTED BOTTLE VASE; THE HEAD FORMING THE BOTTOM. IT HAS ONE HEAD OF SNAKE SKIN STRETCHED OVER THE LARGER END OF SHELL WITHOUT A HOOP. IT IS CLOSELY LACED WITH SPLIT RATTEN TO SLENDER RATTAN HOOP AROUND THE SHOULDERS. THE SHELL IS GILDED AND DECORATED WITH SMALL PIECES OF STAINED GLASS AND MIRROR GLASS FAIRLY ENCRUSTING THE SURFACE. IT IS STRUCK WITH THE FINGERS AND PALMS OF BOTH HANDS. ILLUS. IN BULLETIN 136, USNM, PL. 25-B, P. 136 (138)."

Illustrated and described in McQuail, Lisa. 1997. "Treasures of Two Nations: Thai Royal Gifts to the United States of America" Smithsonian Institution. p. 128

Illus. Fig. 3 p. 115 in Taylor, Paul Michael and Snitwongse, Supamas. 2022. "Plaited Arts and Royal Patronage in Thailand." Arts of Asia, 52, (4) 114–126 (Autumn 2022). Identified there as a hand drum (Thon mahori).

4 Oct 2022

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