Papua New Guinean Star Mountain Drum

A drum as tall as a toddler, with a lizard’s skin stretched across its top.

Telefolmin people of the Star Mountains, Sandaun province, Papua New Guinea, carved this drum in wood. Hand drums of this slender, waisted form are commonly used in New Guinea for dance and ceremony, and are held in one hand and struck with the other. The long dark body narrows at the middle and flares at the base, which is carved and picked out with crossed bands in pale pigment. A membrane head is tied over the top, now brittle and ragged at the edge.

About 36 inches tall. Stand it in a corner and it keeps the beat in silence.