Lot Essay
The small shoulder drum is one of the musical instruments in the repertoire of the No theater. For actual use, the two ends of the drum core were covered with leather discs of horsehide or oxhide secured to one another with crisscrossing cords. Tightening the cords changed the pitch. The musician set the small drum on his right shoulder, grasping the cords with his right hand and swinging across his body with the left hand to strike the drum. Typically, there is evidence of wear around the ends of the drum where there was contact with the leather, and around the center of the handle.
Drums are carved from a single block of wood and they come in two sizes. Large drums, which have a ring around the center, measure about 28.5cm. by 11.4cm. Smaller ones such as the example seen here have a simpler shape. The small drums have a softer sound.
Two kinds of wood are used for drums, a cherry wood, which is heavy, and zelkova, which is much lighter. The latter is used here.
Decoration of drum cores began in the Momoyama period, under the sponsorship of wealthy warlords. There are no prescribed themes for the designs, which tend to be unique, and are unrelated to the subject of the No drama.
Drums are carved from a single block of wood and they come in two sizes. Large drums, which have a ring around the center, measure about 28.5cm. by 11.4cm. Smaller ones such as the example seen here have a simpler shape. The small drums have a softer sound.
Two kinds of wood are used for drums, a cherry wood, which is heavy, and zelkova, which is much lighter. The latter is used here.
Decoration of drum cores began in the Momoyama period, under the sponsorship of wealthy warlords. There are no prescribed themes for the designs, which tend to be unique, and are unrelated to the subject of the No drama.