Kundu drum Massim - Sculpture - kaesosau - Massim - Papua New Guinea

Fine Kundu drum, called kaesosau in the Massim district, Papua New-Guinea
Features a handle flanked by two bird heads.

Late 19th century


Ex Christies Paris 5 Mai 2005 lot 147


Ref. Drums are prized possessions in the Massim region of Papua New Guinea. They often have individual names (sometimes even engraved on the smooth body of the drum) and are passed on as heirlooms within a dala matriclan. Since each drum has a specific tone that distinguishes it from others and can be recognized by Massim locals, they are at times considered to be the voice of an ancestor within the lineage, hence the importance of preserving them.