AMERICAN PAINT-DECORATED CIVIL WAR ERA INFANTRY ROPE-TENSION SNARE DRUM, oak circular body of lapped construction with brass tack decoration. Original polychrome-painted decoration featuring a spread-wing eagle perched on a Union shield laying on a grassy cliff overlooking the ocean, hoops with original red-painted surfaces. Retains one original leather ear, remainder replaced. Circa 1860. 16" H, 16 1/2" D.
Provenance: Property of a Virginia family.
Descended from Virginia Schuler, Erie, PA.
Collected in the Erie, PA area in the 1930s.
Catalogue Note: The present drum, likely a regulation manufactured example with period, non-regulation painted decoration, has a history of descent in the family of Israel Otto, who served as a private in the 149th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. From Rebersburg in Centre County, Pennsylvania, Otto enlisted in August of 1862 and served to the end of the war. The drum retains an old hand-written note (c.1940) which reads, "This drum, the property of Lydia O. Cypher was carried throughout the Civil War by her great Uncle Israel Otto of Centre Co., Pa".
The drum itself, however, bears a period pencil inscription for "Zeno Keeney" to the interior. Zeno Keeney was born in 1851 in Wayne Co., Ohio. He would have been 11 years old at the start of hostilities, so it is possible that the present drum was carried during the Civil War by Zeno Keeney acting as drummer boy, and later acquired by Israel Otto or other Otto family member. No documentation regarding Zeno Keeney's military service has been uncovered, however. Research is ongoing.

Very good as-found condition with expected wear, only minimal to decoration, hoops with some losses to rims, some very light surface cracks to body, small losses to heads.