Asmat Wood Ceremonial Drum

Tall and waisted like an hourglass that kept stretching, with a handle carved from the same trunk.

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, made of wood with crocodile leather. Asmat hourglass drums are generally carved from a single log and topped with a skin head, and are played at feasts and ceremonies. The body flares at both ends, carved in relief with leaf-like and chevron patterns. A squared handle bridges the narrow waist. At the top, a worn skin head is held by a fiber binding. It is 45.75 inches high and 8.5 in diameter.

Even standing silent, it looks ready for the downbeat.