Papua New Guinea Kundu Drum "Crocodile / Fish Mouth"....circa early 20th cent.

Description

This is quite an old specimen from the Papuan Gulf Elema culture....circa 1910 - 15.
*See the 5th photo here.
This one has been through many, many years of handling. Good patination almost everywhere on its surface.
The wonderful feature of this drum is the original/indigenous repairs done to the cracks with tree sap -  which is a very hard, blackish and shiny "glue" like substance.  It's always lovely to see any original indigenous repairs/restorations on important artifacts.
Stunning lime infill - traditional ancestral face motif and other abstract designs on the top "fish/crocodile open mouth" region of the drum.
The original lizard skin drum head is in very good condition.
Condition: the usual, expected chips, dents, scratches, some minor losses  *
**(remember  - this is a very old and AUTHENTIC drum! It is NOT some bad mid/late 20th century tourist artifact, like most of the other ones, here on eBay.)
*** Genuine drums, like this specimen, were sacred objects - they were very important to the people who had made them, they stored spiritual energy and were "alive" in their
consciousness
.
A beautiful artifact!!!!!
Provenance: Lynda Cunningham collection - New York.
Measurements: Height 27.5 inches.....width 18 inches
*** Cost of shipping this item to somewhere in Europe or Australia could be as high as 0..
***** SEE PHOTOS FOR BEST DESCRIPTION.......DO YOUR RESEARCH.........KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING.......ALL SALES ARE FINAL.......... ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS!!!....ASK QUESTIONS.