Asmat Wood Ceremonial Drum

Triangles and wavy panels march up a slim hourglass, with a crocodile leather stretched across the top.

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 with crocodile leather and pigment. Asmat hourglass drums, known as em, are generally carved from a single piece of wood, with a skin head fixed in place. A single carved handle juts from the narrow waist. Red and white pigments fill panels of triangles, zigzags and stylized hooks. A ring of woven rattan binds the worn skin head at the top. It is 42.75 inches high and 7 in diameter.

Built for a long night of sound, and dressed for it.