Beautiful Small Cochiti Pueblo Painted Handheld Drum with Handle folk art pattern with a little wear showing

with a little wear showing in a few areas on the top of the box

Part of what really makes this little snapshot for me is the tiny sun (a glimpse of a sign or billboard I guess) peeking out just about the roof of the motel at far right

If Brancusi were to carve a whimsy

with good wear and aging to the paint

Fill with matches and set on the fireplace mantle

Beautiful Small Cochiti Pueblo Painted Handheld Drum with Handle folk art pattern with a little wear showingI found a painted drum similar to this one a year or so ago and have kept a close eye out ever since as I think theyre stunningly beautiful. Though I found it in Vermont, I am certain it is Cochiti Pueblo, from the Taos area of New Mexico, and believe it dates to the earlyish 20th century. The body is wood (likely cottonwood I think), and the drum heads are stretched rawhide, pulled taut by sinew, which is still holding very tight, and it retains it