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Wakan-chan-cha-gha (frame drum)

late 19th century
Not on view
Round frame drums with single or double heads are found throughout the Americas. They are often decorated with symbols whose meaning is familiar to the larger community, but some emblems are known only to the owner. Here, the bird with lightning-arrow symbols suggests the thunderbird.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Wakan-chan-cha-gha (frame drum)
  • Maker: Sioux or Dakota tribe
  • Date: late 19th century
  • Geography: Great Plains, United States
  • Culture: Native American (Sioux, possibly)
  • Medium: Wood, skin
  • Dimensions: D. 3 × Diam. 10 5/8 in. (7.6 × 27 cm)
  • Classification: Membranophone-double-headed / frame drum
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.631
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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