Asmat Wood Ceremonial Drum

A column of S-shaped loops climbs one side as a handle, light enough to pass for lace.

This ceremonial drum is Asmat, from the Central and Coastal Region of West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia, and dates to the early 20th century. It is wood. Asmat hourglass drums are generally played at feasts and ceremonies, traditionally with a lizard-skin head. The body is carved with incised lines forming diamonds and triangles. The openwork handle is a stack of looping scrolls joined by two crossbars. A speckled skin head is held by a woven rattan band. It is 10 inches wide, 7.25 deep and 24 high.

Built to be heard, and carved to be looked at in between.