Chaozhou, China
Chinese

Metal, wood, hide
Early 20th century
Diameter: 16 in, Depth: 6 in
Membranophones – Struck Membranophones

This is a double-headed Chinese ‘tom-tom’ frame drum, known as the  zhangu, but sometimes called biangu.  It was an instrument used in ritual music and also popular with traditional wedding bands.  Both sides of the shallow barrel-shaped drum are covered with skin heads that are glued and nailed to the shell frame by brass tacks.  The two skinhead sides of the drum are hand painted with the Phoenix Bird and a signature on one side and a dragon design on the other side.  There are two metal rings opposite each other at the waist of the drum.  This type of decorative painted drum was commonly exported to the United States in the 1920’s.  It is played by striking the drumhead with two wooden straight sticks.