Tibetan Damaru on Stand

Vibrantly colored and intricately decorated, this small two-headed drum is a 19th-century Tibetan damaru, a hand-held instrument used in tantric practices within Tibetan Buddhism. Carved into an hourglass shape, this wooden drum is modeled after the form of a chang te'u, a human skull damaru, traditionally created by joining together male and female skullcaps at the apex. Believed to generate spiritual energy when played, the drum is played as an instrument in a wide range of Vajrayana rituals, used to punctuate significant moments during tantric practices. This damaru is paired with an expressively embroidered fabric case and a long, colorful sash called a chöpen, a decorative element meant to wave around while the drum is played. Mounted a custom steel stand, this beautifully preserved ritual object becomes a sculptural work of art.