МАЭ № 571-23

Drum

Kodiak Eskimos

1843

I.G. Voznesenskii's expedition

wood, paint, bladder membrane, sinew

length including the handle 64.5 cm, diameter 49 cm, thickness of the hoop 4 cm; handle: length 22 cm, diameter 2.9 cm; mask on the handle: height 5.8 cm, width 4.5 cm

The handle of this and other drums collected by I. G. Voznesenskii were carved with masks of the spirit-helpers of the shamans, the owners of the drums. It was believed that each shaman had several spirit-helpers, but one of them was the main or personal spirit-custodian of the shaman and the one who always came to his aid.

Ethnography of America