**Originally Listed At $1200**

Southeast Asia, Myanmar and Thailand, Karen people, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A stunning and quite impressive leaded bronze rain or frog drum, created by the Karen - a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group inhabiting the highlands between Myanmar and Thailand - elaborately adorned with dense relief decoration and rich iconography. The outstanding instrument features a circular tympanum engraved with an 8-pointed star surrounded by registers of stylized fish, birds, and geometric motifs, as well as 4 sets of 3 stacked frog figures, equally placed around the periphery. Additional registers of geometric designs encircle the concave drum body with a pair of handles protruding from each side and a procession of 3 snails - representing rain - and 3 elephants - symbolizing wealth - march down the vertical seam. Size: 24.4" Diameter x 18.1" H (62 cm x 46 cm)

Drums like this example have been used in Southeast Asian cultural rituals for hundreds of years. Such bronze drum forms originated with the Bronze Age Dong Son culture of ancient northern Vietnam during the later period of the Hong Bang Dynasty. The Karen people have continued to use these drums into the present day and may have thus preserved the ancient cultural practices of the Dong Son. The drums serve many functions, not least in instilling fear in an enemy and during celebrations after a victory in war. Reverberating in the hills, the pleasing tones emanating from the drums were believed to placate Nat spirits residing in trees, streams, rocks and other objects in the natural environment, thus ensuring these spirits would look kindly on the Karen and help them in times of need. The drums were also beaten to invite ancestor spirits to partake in feasts as well as to witness crucial ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. It was important to conciliate ancestor spirits as they could intercede with Nat spirits on behalf of the Karen. The drums were additionally associated with rain as they were often played in accompaniment with a ritual dance to summon rain. It was thought that the low-frequency pitch from the drum induced frogs to croak and that croaking frogs are a harbinger of rain. Thus, the 3-dimensional frogs embedded on the tympanum are an indication of the instrument's usage.

The Karen also believed that a spirit resided within the drum and at times it was thought beneficial to propitiate it with small bowls of liquor and rice. Failure to do so might result in the early death of the owner. Any changes to the surface of the drum were carefully noted and thought to be indications of the spirit's well-being and intentions. For example, condensation on the surface was not regarded as a good omen; it was interpreted as weeping and if nothing was done, sickness and death could result. To avert such a calamity, a ritual was performed with the blood of a chicken to appease the spirit of the drum.

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 89.4.1234.

Provenance: private Arlington, Texas, USA collection, acquired mid to late-1960s

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#178097

A few small perforations to walls of drum body with some stable hairline fissures and repairs. Expected nicks and abrasions to surface, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice remaining decoration. Rich patina throughout.