Kapala skull hand-drum with leather case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty, 18th century

Kapala skull hand-drum with leather case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty, 18th century

• Image Number: K1D000983N000000000PAD
• Dynasty: Qing dynasty
• Category: Miscellaneous objects
• Function: Instrument
• Material: Animal/bone/
• Description:
  The gabra drum is shaped like a waist drum by sticking one skull back to the other. The central joint is hooped with webbing, with a metal base inlaid with coral, pearls and small mallets. The webbing is decorated with coral drop angles, as well as colorful streamers of coiled long knots and tassels. The drum surface is green, the painted lotus is in full bloom, and the grass is rolled around. The drum rim is decorated with gold wire. The drum is an instrument used to exorcise evil spirits during the practice of the Tantrism. A wooden leather box with four Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan characters: “Dalai Lama goes to Zha Malu Drum”.