Northwest Coast Nootka Painted Hand Drum

Early 21st Century

2.5" H x 14.875" D Stick 15.75" L x 1.5" D

Hand Crafted from Rawhide Stretched and Laced over a Wooden Frame with the Drumhead Painted in an Indian Mouse Motif Design with a Carved Drum Stick with Leather Padded Tip

In Very Good Condition 

Nootka the Nuu-chah-nulth people (also historically called Nootka), Indigenous First Nations from the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the broader Northwest Coast cultural region, renowned for sophisticated art featuring formline designs, bold colors, and motifs from nature, mythology, and clan crests—such as animals (e.g., salmon, whales, eagles, thunderbirds), sea creatures, and symbolic elements like rainbows or celestial figures.

Painted hand drums are traditional percussion instruments used in ceremonies, songs, dances (like potlatch or winter ceremonies), and spiritual practices. They often feature a single or double-headed rawhide (e.g., elk or deer hide) stretched over a wooden frame/hoop, with the drumhead painted in vibrant, symbolic designs. These drums produce a deep, resonant sound when struck with a padded beater or stick, and the paintings serve both decorative and cultural/spiritual purposes, sometimes representing clan stories, animals, or transformative beings.