barrel drum

Dholak. Barrel drum. Shell made of shisham wood (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.). Both goatskin heads are braced with rods and screws, and the shell has a central handle. A black tuning load dhama is applied to the underside of the bass head to create a low pitch. It is made of 'dholak masala', a mixture of tar, clay and sand. Made in Dharampura Bazaar, Patiala.

The dholak is used in many different ensembles all over north-west and north-central India, accompanying both singing and dancing. The shisham wood shell for the dholak is imported from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
2006.458.1
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 475 mm x 260 mm x 315 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood; goatskin; metal; resin
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
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