Images from The Graese Gallery Ceremony Drum, Plains Indians, Northern Plains Region, 19th century Click on images below to see larger images NMM 870.  Ceremony drum, Plains Indians, Northern Plains Region, 19th century. Split-wood, bent frame drum with centrally located four-point star and border of bear paws and triangles, entirety of head dyed yellow. Head attached to frame using individual rawhide ties around circumference of drum, ties passed through holes cut into wooden frame and drumhead. Typically, this type of drum was made for personal use in prayer and meditation. Arne B. Larson Collection, 1979. Bear Claw, Star, and Triangle Painted on Drumhead Drum Frame Structure The drum's frame is made of a split length of wood, bent to form an irregular circle. The ends were originally secured only with rawhide lashing through holes carved into the wood. This was later reinforced with brass wire passing through holes carved into the frame.   Click arrow to continue Graese Gallery Tour Go to Graese Gallery Tour Index Go to Virtual Gallery Tour Index Go to Checklist of Musical Instruments of the Indigenous Peoples of North America National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD   57069 ©National Music Museum, 2007 Most recent update:   February 28, 2007 You are the 1,578th visitor to this page since February 22, 2007. The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page