17-Cochiti Painted Hand Held Historic Drum [SOLD]

Painted and unpainted drums of all sizes are used in pueblo ceremonies. The drum suggests the thunder that comes with rain. The drum has two heads. Pueblo songs are written to start slowly and then go to a climax. At a certain point of the song, the drum is flipped over to achieve a higher beat. This lifts the dancers and gives them the impetus to continue dancing.

The body of the drum is painted in alternating colors of blue and orange with white just below the drum heads.  Black lines outline the body paint.

Written in ink in one of the orange triangles is the following: Santa Fe New Mexico 8/26/36 JM 36. 

Condition: The heads of the drum were painted black and there is no significant wear due to use.  There is no damage to the drum. It appears that a handle was once on the drum but has broken off.

Provenance: From the Dana Lipsig Scarpitta collection.