Dong Son Bronze Drum
Southeast Asia, 18th century or earlier.
An extraordinary, highly ornamented antique bronze drum with superb natural patina.
H. 36 x D. 56 cm (22.2 x 14.0 in)
Old German collection, acquired before 1927 in Tungkun or between 1927 and 1939 in Bangkok.
1 Dong Son Bronze Drum, Heger Type I, Yunnan Province (China) or Vietnam, 18th century or earlier
An extraordinary, highly ornamented antique bronze drum. Museum quality!
Around the 12-rayed raised star in the centre with butterfly motifs between the “sunrays”, friezes of figured scenes can be found, probably warriors with feather dresses, stylised flying birds, fishes and other geometric symbols.
The resonance case showing horizontal lines with stripe and circular patterns (please see detail of the tympanum next page).
A pair of loop handles with cord ornaments on each side of the drum.
Partly the ornaments has faded away from use over the centuries.
Opposite page:
A tympanum from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art shows a very similar design (please see: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/37766 and picture opposite). Even the pattern between the rays of the star are similar (detailed pictures on the top).
It is described as: Tympanum of a Heger I Kettledrum, ca. 500 B.C.–A.D. 300 (Bronze and Iron Age period, Dongson culture), Vietnam.
(https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/37766)
photo credit (Public Domain with open access): The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A fragment of a very similar bronze drum from the collection of the National Museum Rangoon is published in The Karen Bronze Drums of Burma, Richard M. Cooler, E.J. Brill, Leiden, New York, Köln 1995, plates XXI and XXII
It is identified as: Heger’s early Type I
photo credit:
The Karen Bronze Drums of Burma, Richard M. Cooler, E.J. Brill, Leiden, New York, Köln 1995, plates XXI and XXII
height: 355 mm / 13.98 in
diameter: 565 mm / 22.24 in
weight: circa 17.5 kg
condition: damages on the lower rim, crack on one of the handles, smooth surface with some encrustations, superb natural patina
provenance: German collection, acquired before 1927 in Tungkun, Canton province (today Dongguan, Guangdong province, China) or between 1927 and 1939 in Bangkok (Thailand)
price: upon request
2 Karen Frog Drum “KYEE ZEE”, (Heger Type III), Burma, 19th century or earlier
A good example of the old Karen rain drums with one-frog tympanum, finely cast in bronze
The tympanum with four single frogs, concentric bands with fish and bird ornaments as well as the body with further decorative bands.
Opitz describes that the Karen used the drums, but they were made from the Shan and Intha of eastern Burma.
Kyee-Zee drums were also used in northwestern Laos by Lamet, Kammu and Khmu people, purchased from the Karen.
A remarkable piece of Burmese and Karen history.
condition: 9 cm crack on the resonance case (please see previous page, lower left part of the drum) and signs of wear. Overall fine condition, especially considering age and use
references: Charles J. Opitz, An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money, First Impressions Printing, 2000, p. 197
The Karen drums of Burma, 1995, Richard M. Cooler
Arts of Asia, Sept.-Oct. 1983, Sylvia Fraser-Lu
Arts of Asia, Jan.-Feb. 1975, Roxanne M. Brown
cf. Christie's Sale 5065 Lot 8
cf. Christie's Sale 2016 Lot 137
provenance: German art market
height:
350 mm / 13.78 in
diameter: 498 mm / 19.61 in
price: sold
Inclusive perspex stand.
The tympanum of a Kachin Frog Drum from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art shows a very similar design.
Please see: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/505332 and picture from the museum’s website below
It is described as: Mahōra Thuk, 14th–17th century, Laos and Thailand, possibly Thai.
Art (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/505332)
photo credit (Public Domain with open access): The Metropolitan Museum of
Original heavy Burmese temple gong with deep resonant and warm, long lasting sound (a mallet will be added, not displayed).
Our gong shows a natural, almost black patina with a lovely bronze colour on the playing surface from the use over the decades
Donor’s inscription almost vanished.
condition: excellent, no dents, cracks or holes
diameter: 510 mm / 20.08 in
weight: 6,8 kg
price: upon request
3 Large temple Gong, Bronze, Burma (Myanmar), early 20th century
Christmas Special 2022
Rare Seated Buddha Shakyamuni Bronze, Northern Thailand / Laos, pre-Lan Na period, 16th century or earlier