Naga Wood Pounding Table

Over twelve feet of wood, hollowed out for one loud job.

This pounding table is Naga, from Nagaland in Northeast India, early 20th century, in jungle wood. Long wooden troughs of this type were used by Naga villagers to pound rice, often with several people working together. A single long, shallow trough tapers to rounded ends, its surface a soft reddish brown. Underneath, a heavy keel has been cut into wedge-shaped supports with triangular openings. It rests on a dark metal stand. It is 151.5 inches long and 32 high.

Dinner parties used to start with more noise.