October 14, 2010

D is for Drum

These are exquisite reproductions of the Maranao temple drums that in the past the sultan would use to call his people to town meetings.

Manila, 2009

I found them at a native craft market called Tiendesitas, but they were likely made by traditional woodcarvers in Lanao del Sur on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The Maranao tribe, largest of the indigenous Muslim Moro ethnic group, is well-known and admired for their beautiful arts and crafts - weaving, wood and metal craft - as well as their epic literature.

The one question I had that I could not find an answer to is why they are called temple drums when followers of Islam worship in a mosque.

Today I am joining Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the day is D. You'll be surprised how many creative posts "D" can make.

30 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Aren't they gorgeous? Fabulous work, Francisca -- by the drum makers, and by you.
K

Julie said...

I love the lighting in that top shot, Francisca.

A few years back I overcame my disappointment upon seeing reproductions of something older. By the time I see the reproduction it is often hundreds of years old itself.

I have withdrawn from memes for a while. I have just so much writing to do that I have restricted time for visiting. If I manage 20 visits a day, that is as much as I can do. Memes are such a lot of work.

jennyfreckles said...

Beautiful craftsmanship. I wonder how they sound?

Pat Tillett said...

Beautiful workmanship! Also, very nice photos. I'm loving this photo tour!

EG CameraGirl said...

The drums are indeed beautifully carved. Interesting: temple and mosque. Maybe something has been lost in the translation?

Tracy said...

I would lve one as a side table they are beautiful
Feel free to pop by



http://edenhouse7.blogspot.com/2010/10/alphabet-thursday-d-is-for-daughters.html

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Very interesting post. I think they are such pretty works of art too. I wonder what they sound like? Thanks for sharing, joining you from Alphabet Thursday.

Mary said...

Beautiful craftsmanship in those drums! It IS interesting why they are referred to as temple drums :-)

Judie said...

I woud be very much interested as to what you find out about these drums. They a beautiful!

Amanda Lee said...

Interesting post. The craftsmanship of those temple drums is just amazing. Good question about the name of the drums -- probably just a translation thing?

Sue McPeak said...

Very unique and interesting post for the Letter D. Exquiste craftsmanship in the drums and lovely photos. In Texas we have markets that are called LaTienda's, and most things found there are from Mexico.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

They certainly are exquisite! I'd love to have one sitting in my hallway....

Unknown said...

These are beautiful! What wonderful things to have!

Annesphamily said...

These are so beautiful and very intricate. I am glad I came over. Come see me. Thanks,Anne

Unknown said...

These remind me of carvings and ceramics in Sarawak on the island on Borneo. It's interesting that the arts in a region share a lot of similarities; such as the roof in your previous photo looking very similar to Chinese roofs.

Annie Jeffries said...

A very good question, Francisca. This drums are so beautifully detailed. I'm guessing cultural influence lead to the use of the word "temple".

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

B is for BREATHTAKING,

E is for EXQUISITE.


Loved this!!

Kaori said...

Those carvings are magnificent! Seriously gorgeous photos! They must take much time and much talent to make these! I don't remember seeing anything like this in Mindanao, but I do remember the sound of drums :-D

Theresa Plas said...

Really exquisite carvings!

Jo said...

those drums do look amazing ...

Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys said...

Exquisite is right!! I love the first shot. Great D post.

Susan Anderson said...

What a find. Those drums are amazing!

=)

Jenny said...

What a fascinating stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's letter "D".

I googled to find out the reason for the name with no luck. You made me curious.

These are truly works of art.

I enjoyed this descriptive and fascinating stop this week.

Thank you for linking.

A+

VP said...

I don't care if these are reproductions, for what I see and know, they are beautifully made!

Lowell said...

At first I thought they were some kind of vases. And I thought they were ceramic.

Shows how much I know!

Exquisite is, I think, the right word. And elegant.

I remember reading about Mindanao in the WWII novels of W.E.B. Griffin...an American officer set up an outpost there and collected a motley crew of Americans and natives and harassed the Japanese throughout the rest of the war. Griffin used many actual historical occurrences in his novels.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

These drums are beautiful! Maybe they're called temple drums because they predate the Muslim religion in that area.
Su-sieee! Mac
This and That. Here and There. Now, Sometimes Then.

Amy said...

Wow! such craftsmanship. They are absolutely beautiful. i love your post! Visiting fro Jenny's.

Unknown said...

Beautiful drums! I read your article about 'where home is' for you. What a fascinating story.

Thank you for visitng my D-post for Mrs. Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday, round 2 - D.

I added another dog. I don't think just two kinds of dogs is enough. I was lucky enough to find this woman who owns a beautiful white dog that the children usually pet when we see them. So I took some pics and this time it was not a perfect stranger.
Please visit again when ever you have the time.

Also, my cat Sara has a post for Mrs. Denise Nesbitt's ABC-Wednesday - M. Sara chose an M-word that is also a part of the animal kingdom.
Visit whenever you have the time. I am leaving links here:
For Sara's post:
Sara Cat's abcWED-round-7-M

For another look at my D-post:

Anna's D-word Alphabe-Thurs

Best wishes,
Anna

Brenda said...

The carvings a lovely. Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and the back ground on the drums.

Hilda said...

The few times I've been to Tiendesitas, I spend most of it in this area. I'd love to bring one of these drums home, and a kulintang too. Gorgeous!