Damaru skull hand-drum with case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)-China Archive

Image Number: K1D001937N000000000PAI
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Category: Miscellaneous objects
Function: Dharma instruments and musical instruments
Material: Animal/bone/
Description:
The hand drum, known as “Zamalu” in Tibetan, is transliteration of the Sanskrit Damaru. It is made of two skulls glued together at the vault. The waist is bound with gold plated hoops inlaid with turquoise wire, and a pair of soft balls are hung on both sides to beat the drum. The leather drum surface is painted with cyan ground clay gold holding treasure five claw dragon, surrounded by grass leaf lotus patterns, rhinoceros horn, double coin patterns, plate long patterns and other miscellaneous treasures. The drum surface is covered with mottled oil. It is decorated with large turquoise beads, ribbons, tassels and streamers. The inner layer is made of tricolor silk, and the two sides are made of azure silk. It is decorated with pearls and bordered with eight auspiciousness, which is magnificent and magnificent. Attached is a gold case with white silk and ink characters written in Han, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan characters, which indicates that the hand drum is held by the second, third and fifth Dalai Lamas: “In the Potala Temple, there are secret offerings, the venerable saint Lama Gendun Zamu, the Dalai Lama Sonomu Zamu, and the fifth generation Dalai Lama