Octagonal hand drum bajiao gu
An octagonal hand drum bajiao gu 八角鼓, whose body is a wooden frame covered with a python skin membrane, inlaid with ivory. On seven of the eight sides, it has ivory-inlaid openings or notches of interesting shape in which pairs of small round bells (ling 鈴) are affixed. On the side where there is no opening, a decorative string is attached to the ivory decoration, about three to four tambourine-lengths long, ending with a traditional Chinese knot in a weighted tassel. The drum is shaken with the left hand or played with the fingers or palm of the right hand. It was brought to China during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and was used to accompany poetic and narrative songs. (KH)
Manufacturing technique: processed wood and snake skin
Dimensions: height: 7 cm, width: 13.5 cm, length: 75.5 cm
No. of parts: 1
Current owner: Slovene Ethnographic Museum
Date of the last acquisition: 1963
Previous owners and periods of ownership: Ivan Skušek , Jr. and Tsuneko Kondō Kawase - Marija Skušek, National Museum of Slovenia, Slovene Ethnographic Museum
Object condition, handling and damage: The drum membrane is damaged. The ivory ornaments and other components of the drum, such as the small bells, are also either damaged, not attached, or missing.
Press releases: HRVATIN, Klara. 2020. "Zbirateljska kultura in razstave vzhodnoazijskih glasbil na Slovenskem: Identifikacija glasbil iz Skuškove zbirke" [Collection Culture and Exhibitions of East Asian Musical Instruments in Slovenia: Identification of Musical Instruments]. Ars & Humanitas 14(2), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.4312/ars.14.2.119-135
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