Antique Burmese Karen Frog Drum, a fine large bronze tribute drum (Heger Type III), Pazi (Burmese), pam klo’ (Karen) also known as “The Magical Bronze Pond”(Cooler – Developmental Stage VII, Aerial Sequence, Category C three frogs, p.276)*. The Karen subsiding on slash and burn agriculture were rain dependent, and “rain drums” were beaten to bring on the rains for frogs croak prior to rain and the low frequency drum sounds excite the frogs to croak as well, and thus it was believed that the beating of the drum was a call for rain. This lost wax casting of a drum is ornamented with 12 frogs stacked in threes located at four equidistant points on the outer edge of the tympanum in a counter clockwise direction wherein the bottom frogs straddle the two outer bands. The center of the tympanum is decorated with a crisp 12 pointed relief “star-of-foam”, the star points overlap the first set of triple ridges, resembling ripples that delineate concentrically the 14 die cast decorated bands in a variety of motifs, starting from the center, the designs can be identified as tiny raindrops (bands 1,6,12), continuous lozenge pattern (bands 2, 7, 13), a ring of rosettes (band 3), skyward looking ducks (bands 4 & 10), radial rays (bands 5 & 11), flying birds in flocks of three alternating with sets of three rhomboid lozenges (bands 8 & 9), and the outer band is undecorated (band 14) ending with one braided edge. The sides of the drum are similarly decorated with sets of triple ridges in 3 zones with 19 die cast bands in between of radial rays, raindrops, continuous lozenge pattern and skyward looking ducks. The side double strap braided handles on opposing sides are used to suspend the drum when struck, four relief “seams” equidistant from the placement of the frogs. Under one handle along the seam is a three dimensional procession lead down the side of the drum on a vegetal stalk with curled fronds by a large elephant followed by two smaller elephants, followed by three snail curls of diminishing scale.
Condition: Verdigris greenish bronze patina indicating a high copper content. Evidence of 15 residual relief bosses from the casting rods on the tympanum. Original casting clay residue fused to portions of the crevices of the tympanum and upper drum body bands. Some casting flaws in the crispness of the die cast tympanum bands and a few pin holes from casting on the body. There is no visual evidence of any restorations and the overall surface patina is consistent with age and use, overall fine condition.
Measuring: 19.125 inches high (top surface excluding frogs) x 25 inches in diameter. (48.5cm x 63.5cm).
Weight: 42 lbs. (19kg)
Late 19th Century.

Provenance:
The Collection of Polly and Ed Renwick, New Orleans, LA.
New Orleans Auction Galleries, Modern and Contemporary Art and Design, April 22, 2023, lot 96.

“The Magic Pond”
A Karen Poem:
Rains come when frogs croak
Birds come when rains come
Fish rise when birds come
Floods come when fish rise
Elephants draw when floods come
Timber comes when elephants draw
The land prospers when timber comes.*

*Dr. Richard Morrall Cooler, The Karen Bronze Drums of Burma: The Magic Pond, A Thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, August
29, 1979.

For a similar published example see:
The Museum of East Asian Art Journal, Vol. 2, 1996, The Magical Bronze Pond: The Classification, Authentication and Significance of a Late Karen Bronze Drum by Richard M. Cooler. pp. 1 – 5.

Dimensions:

Height: 20.75 in (52.71 cm)Diameter: 25 in (63.5 cm)
Style:

Tribal(Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:

BronzeCast
Place of Origin:

Myanmar
Period:

Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:

Late 19th Century
Condition:

GoodWear consistent with age and use. Some casting flaws in the crispness of the die cast tympanum bands and a few pin holes from casting on the body. There is no visual evidence of any restorations and the overall surface patina is consistent with age and use, overall fine condition.
Seller Location:

Point Richmond, CA
Reference Number:

Seller: TM-UH90035Seller: LU1778239897592

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