Lot 112
Asmat Kundu Ceremonial Drum, West Papua
Estimate$400–$600
Offered in A Lifetime of Discovery III · Sunday, November 1, 2026, To be announced
A large carved wood kundu hand drum attributed to the Asmat people of West Papua, Indonesia. Hollowed from a single section of wood with a tall waisted body, deeply carved relief decoration, and an elaborate openwork handle incorporating stylized ancestral and geometric motifs. Fitted with an intact reptile-skin drum head secured by traditional woven plant-fiber and rattan bindings. Darkened surface with evidence of age and use throughout.
- Size
- 34 1/2 in. high.
- Provenance
- Property from an important private collection, assembled by a dealer and collector over more than six decades.
- Condition
- Overall age-related surface wear, abrasions and small edge losses consistent with use; drum head remains intact and securely bound; scattered wear to fiber bindings and carved elements, as photographed.
Estimates are opinions of value, given as a guide.