**Originally Listed At $300**

Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Timor Island, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An elegant carved-wood drum displaying an octagonal foot that tapers to a long, tubular neck, and a wide cylindrical body that expands towards its flat animal hide top. Boasting a lustrous burnish and natural wood grain in hues of deep mahogany and burnt sienna, the fascinating instrument is adorned with a raised decorative band midway down its neck that is carved into an abstract motif of leaf-like shapes arranged in zigzags and flanked by a top and bottom border. The sienna and beige hued hide of the batter head has been folded up around the periphery (possibly with a slender tree branch or a pin) and wetted in order to mold secure itself in place. Size: 8.5" in diameter x 15.5" H (21.6 cm x 39.4 cm)

Heavily influenced by the country's Portuguese colonization from the 16th century into the 20th and its Indonesian occupation from 1975 to 1999, the music of East Timor plays a central role in both the daily lives of the East Timorese and the nation?s culture. For example, the most widespread form of native folk music, the likurai dance, which involved playing a small drum, like this example, and carrying enemy heads in processions through villages, was originally performed by women to welcome men home after war. Now, however, the dance and music have been modernized to be used by women in courtship. East Timorese music also acted as a medium for rebellion against foreign oppression during the country's Indonesian occupation. Native music had become closely associated with the independence movement by the time of East Timor?s campaign for sovereignty in 1999. During the build up to the 2000 referendum, one band of mixed East Timorese and Australian dissent released an anthem for the country?s independence, and the United Nations even commissioned a song from another East Timorese band that encouraged people to register to vote in the referendum.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#135673

Collection label on side of drum body. Base has stable fissure and several chips to periphery. Some nicks/chips and scratches throughout wooden body comensurate with age.