Slit Drum Striker

89-17-6B

From: Papua New Guinea | Western Province, Papua New Guinea

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

Object Number 89-17-6B
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Yonggom/Muyu
Provenience Papua New Guinea | Western Province, Papua New Guinea
Section Oceanian
Materials Stone
Description

Slit gong (wong) and pebble beater (wong bot). Name is onomatopoetic. Hollowed log, cut by axe and smoothed with an adze. Handle at one end to hold the gong vertically, striking it inside with the river pebble beater. Knot at bottom, opposite handle. Traditionally, main use was to signal someone had been killed. This is the first recorded slit gong from Papua. Made by Kutem Buru, clan Namanggo.

Credit Line Purchased from Stuart A. Kirsch, 1989
Other Number 52B - Other Number

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.