Country Group: China, Japan and Korea

Item id: 9889

Two-Thousand-Year-Old Han Dynasty Frog Drum, Yunnan, China — Rare Complete Example (Circa 200 BC–200 AD). This remarkable Han Dynasty bronze frog drum from Yunnan, China, dates to approximately 200 BC–200 AD and represents one of the earliest and rarest forms of ritual bronze drums in Asia. Unlike most surviving examples—which are typically fragmentary—this drum is preserved in exceptionally complete condition, making it a true museum-quality piece.



The drum stands an impressive 15 inches tall, with a broad 26-inch top diameter, giving it a monumental presence. It is distinctly different from the better-known Southeast Asian drums (Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, and Burmese types); while those are rare in their own right, early Chinese drums from Yunnan are significantly scarcer, with far fewer recorded specimens. A close comparative example was offered at Christie’s Amsterdam in the 1980s, paired with a small companion drum. The two were given a pre-auction estimate of 50,000 guilders—approximately $10,000 USD at the time—reflecting their rarity even then.



Drums of this age and region seldom appear on the open market. This is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a two-millennia-old Chinese ritual bronze of great historical and cultural significance. The starting price has been reduced by more than 50%.