Among the Marind-anim, on the southern coast of New Guinea, such drums (nearly as high as a person) are sounded during dance ceremonies in which only men take part. Women and girls may only watch from afar. The Marind-anim have also dances that do include women and girls. But for these, only small drums, called ‘kundu’, may be used.
The present, big Marind-anim drum is a very beautiful, typical and old example of such a ‘Kandara drum’: made from the hard, red-brown wood of a tree-trunk and carved into a typical hourglass shape. Mammalian hide is used for the stretching on top. For the significantly smaller hourglass drum (‘kundu’) common for New Guinea, goanna or lizard skin is stretched. Such hides, however, would be too small for the Marind-anim ‘kandara’ drum. The wooden body of the drum is in the shape of an hourglass and is retracted in the middle. This is where the sturdy, big grip-hold is continually carved.
The drum’s decorations are characteristic of the Marind-anim style: the drum’s stand displays two all-round, wide bands with overall 8 spirals, carved in relief, and coloured in red and white. These are trimmed with a narrow relief of wavy lines. Two such wavy lines with deep surfaces can be also found in the area of the grip-hold. This handle, onto which the original carrying cord made of braided plant fibres is still attached, has, especially in the middle, very good, light-coloured, even, shiny patina that has resulted from the protracted use of the drum.
Colour scuffing due to age. No significant damage! Height: 136 cm; Width: 24 cm (by the grip). Early 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Evans Collection, Sydney, Australia; Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.:
‘Ozeanische Kunst’ by Anthony J. P. Meyer, ill. 77; ‘New Guinea Art’ by Marcia & John Friede, ill. 508; ‘Art Papou’, Musées de Marseille catalogue, ill. 233.