Tibet
Tibetan Buddhist

Wood, paint, lacquer, hide
Late 19th – Early 20th century
Length: 54.5 in
Membranophones – Struck Membranophones – Frame Drum

The ‘Rnga’ or ‘Lag-Rnga’ (hand drum) is a large double-headed frame drum of Tibet.  It is used in Buddhist ritual music, such as to rhyme prayers during recitation of sutras in monasteries.  The carved handle with lotus and lozenge motifs is usually held in the player’s left hand and struck with the right hand holding a sickle-shaped drumstick that has a padded skin tip and handle.  Sometimes, the drum is placed in a wooden framed stand and suspended from the ring on the top.  The intricately low relief wood carved frame with polychrome displays the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.

Resource: ‘Rnga’, Mireille Helffer/R, ‘The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments,’ 2^nd Edition, Lawrence Libin, Editor in Chief. Oxford University Press, 2014.  https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/504559