Rope Drums in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts

Side drum
probably 1834

Distributed by: Henry H. Prentiss, American, 1801–1860
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Height 35.5 cm, diameter 42 cm (Height 14 in., diameter 16 9/16 in.)
Maple

Inscriptions: Extensive printed label (see photo):
Classification: Musical instruments
On view in the: Musical Instruments Gallery

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gift of the Reed Family, 1993
Accession number: 1993.900

Provenance/Ownership History: Donated by Donald W. Reed of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Reed inherited the instrument from William A. Reed of North Abington, Massachusetts.

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Side drum
about 1800

Belgium
Height 44 cm, diameter 45.5 cm (Height 17 5/16 in., diameter 17 15/16 in.)
Brass

Classification: Musical instruments
Object is currently not on view

Brass barrel, two skin heads held by wooden loops laced with cord braces and tightened with leather tags. Two snares below.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection, 1917
Accession number: 17.2020

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Bass drum
about 1815

England
Height 80 cm, diameter 72 cm (Height 31 1/2 in., diameter 28 3/8 in.)
Wood

Inscriptions: Painted on shell (on large red square): DARTMOUTH INDEPENDENT HARMONY BAND / (on a small scroll: Unity is strength)

Classification: Musical instruments

Object is currently not on view

Wooden barrel built up with two shells of equal height. Two wooden hoops, braced and tightened with cord and tags. Below inscription are white and blue ensigns with the flagstaffs crossed.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection, 1917
Accession number: 17.2022

Provenance/Ownership History: Ex. coll. Francis W. Galpin

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Bass drum and mallet
1813–19
Frederick Lane, American, 1791–1865

Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Height 60 cm, diameter 62 cm (Height 23 5/8 in., diameter 24 7/16 in.)
Ash

Classification: Musical instruments

On view in the: Musical Instruments Gallery

Ash (?) shell with painted decoration consisting of an American eagle with "E Pluribus Unum" on a fluttering banner over a shield. Skin heads held on by red-painted wood hoops laced with rope and leather tensioners. Includes old wooden mallet.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gift of the Family of Charles E. Black and Gale L. Perron, including Karen A. Black, Diane L. (Black) Conners, Emmie Perron Black and Katrina Perron-Black, 1986
Accession number: 1986.937a-b

Provenance/Ownership History: Donated by Charles E. Black of Hingham, Massachusetts. Black apparently inherited the instrument from his father, Clarence Edgar Black, originally from Waldoboro, Maine. It was supposedly handed down through several generations of the family, and is believed to have been used in the War of 1812 by Joseph Jewett (1780-1852) of Alna, Maine.

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Bass drum and two mallets
about 1810

England
Height 73.5 cm, diameter 65 cm (Height 28 15/16 in., diameter 25 9/16 in.)
Wood

Classification: Musical instruments

Object is currently not on view

Wooden barrel, overlapped and riveted with three rows of flat- headed brass rivets. Painted white scroll, decorations, no inscriptions. Two painted wooden hoops held with cord braces and tightened with leather tags. One hoop braces with sheet iron patches (riveted on). Two drumsticks.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Leslie Lindsey Mason Collection, 1917
Accession number: 17.2021a-c

Provenance/Ownership History: Ex. coll. Francis W. Galpin Ex. coll. Francis W. Galpin Ex. coll. Francis W. Galpin