Frame Drum 19th century

This frame drum was made by an Eskimauan family, at an unspecified time. The drum is a fascinating example of how objects can embody cultural identity and social structures. Music and rhythm play essential roles in many Indigenous cultures, and instruments like this frame drum are often central to community gatherings, ceremonies, and storytelling. The drum's materials and construction reflect the intimate relationship between the Eskimauan people and their environment. Animal hides, likely sourced from local game, would have been carefully prepared and stretched over a wooden frame. Considering the history of museums and their role in collecting and displaying cultural artifacts, it’s important to reflect on how this drum came to be in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What was the process of acquisition? What is the museum’s responsibility to the people who created it? By exploring such questions we can deepen our understanding of this object.