Tambourin

18th century
Not on view
This type of instrument is commonly found in the Provence region of France and often called a 'tambourin de Provence.' It is commonly played by a musician who wears the drum on a strap hanging from the player's left arm and elbow. The player strikes the drum head with a beater held in the right hand, and plays a little pipe with their left hand.

Technical description: The drum shell is made of two pieces of wood fitted together horizonally and painted black, rope tension, originally with twelve leather tugs (seven missing). Wood rims, painted black, with twelve drilled holes through which the rope passes. A hook, hole in the shell, and two holes in the rim are aligned vertically with snare marks on the drumhead, indicating that at one point there was a snare strainer mounted vertically, parallel to the shell. Calfskin heads. Marks on the bottom head indicating there were at least two snares on this drum at one point during its history. Opposite the strainer is a small knob, probably a harp or guitar peg, made of dark wood with a bone tip over which the snares looped.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tambourin
  • Date: 18th century
  • Geography: France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: wood, skin, cord.
  • Dimensions: H. 1 ft. 8-3/4 in., Diam. 12-1/4 in.
  • Classification: Membranophone-double-headed / barrel drum
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.978
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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