Skull Drum / Damaru

A large skull drum made from two crania that are punctured and tied together at the crowns. The 'waist' of the drum is strengthened with a quilted strip of red and faded yellow cotton (red only visible where the layers are cut through). Over both cranium is stretched a skin to create a drum surface. Both skins are badly cracked. Encircling the drum is a padded ring of deep red cotton that has two beaters attached to it made from yellow twisted cotton yarn with wax covered felt at the ends. Attached to the skin of one drum is a badly faded collector's label.