Country Group: South and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam)

Item id: 8414

This is an authentic bronze Burmese Rain Drum, probably from the 17/18th century. It is part of a group of 8 drums which I bought as a group from a large estate about 14 years ago. They were collected in 1972 by an American in Air America (CIA) who was based in eastern Thailand. As per his relative who was dispersing the estate, he bought the group of drums in Luang Prabang (Laos) as he flew Americans in and out of Laos. This is a "single" frog drum- there are variations of these drums which have double or triple frogs. The single ones tend to be the earliest ones. Research has determined that these drums have been made for hundreds of years (perhaps most of a millennium) by the Karen people. They are primarily made in Burma, and even the ones which have long been in Laos and Thailand are old imports from Karen groups in Burma. The drum is large at 21.5 inches to the top of the frogs' heads. The top diameter is approx 25 inches. Several beautiful early repairs.