Katunenia
Alternate name(s)
- Drum
Date1875-1900 ca.
Place MadeTrobriand Isle, Papua New Guinea, Asia
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsnone
DescriptionThis drum originates in the Trobriand Islands, which are also known as the Kiriwina Islands (also the name of the largest island in the group). They are located north of New Guinea, and are considered part of the Massim Region, which is politically and geographically part of Papua New Guinea.
The drum is most likely played in a similar way to hand-drums in New Guinea; held by the handle in one hand and played with the other hand. In a review of the film Kama Wosi: Music in the Trobriand Islands (one of a few research pieces conducted on the music of Trobriand), Niles cites a few references to drums. He states that there are two types of drums played to accompany singing and dancing, as vocal music is culturally more important than instrumental. A smaller drum, katuneniya signals the dancers and a larger drum provides the basic rhythmic patterns. He also cites an example of a man carving an intricate handle on a drum.
The use of white lime is part of a wider artistic style in the Trobriand Islands, and it is often used to fill in carvings to add emphasis.
The original invoice from the dealer labels this drum as an “authentic ethnographic collectors specimen over one hundred years old”, although there isn’t a Declaration of Antiquity, as there is with some of this other instruments.
Single-head, open-ended cyclindrical drum constructed from wood. The body has a slight natural bend. The lizard skin head, which appears to be original to the instrument, is attached with a length of rattan or similar fibrous material which is wound three times around the circumference of the head. The outside body is coated with a dark finish. The inside is smooth but unfinished.
There is a handle in the middle of the drum, carved from the same wood as the body. The ends of the handle are decorated with small linear carvings, and extend along the upper and lower body of the drum. The carvings are most likely inlaid with white lime. There are four small holes in the handle extensions; one at the top of the extension, one at the bottom of the extension, and one on either side of the handle.
There are two small, star carvings, also inlaid with lime, inside carved circles near the top of the drum. At the lower end of the body there are two small lengths of wood protruding from the body, each with a line of small holes.
DimensionsLength: 67 cm
Circumference at head: 31 cm
Circumference at middle: 27 cm
Circumference at end: 28
Length of handle, without decorative extensions: 10 cm
Published ReferencesAndré P. Larson, The National Music Museum: A Pictorial Souvenir (Vermillion: National Music Museum, 1988), p. 27. Smith, Sarah E., “Percussion Instruments in America’s Shrine to Music Museum”. Percussive Notes, Vol. 37, No. 1. (February 1999), p. 8.
Credit LineBoard of Trustees, 1976
Object number01479
On View
Not on view
