Square Drum

between 1870 and 1885

Siyosapa Yanktonai, 1850 - 1902

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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Audio Transcript

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About the Artwork

A human-like thunderbird, with expansive black wings and curved horns, appears on one side of this hand drum. Siyosapa, a Yanktonai holy man (Wicasa wakan), created this drum and would have used it in his practice. During the Reservation Era (1850 – 87), when the United States government criminalized Native American cultural traditions, Siyosapa continued to make and sell this and other artworks. By doing so, he engaged in the intentional preservation and proliferation of his religious customs.

Title Square Drum

Artwork Date between 1870 and 1885

Artist Siyosapa

Life Dates 1850 - 1902

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Native American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Yanktonai

Medium Wood, animal hide, paint

Dimensions Overall: 16 in. × 17 3/4 in. × 4 3/4 in. (40.6 × 45.1 × 12.1 cm)

Classification Musical Instruments

Department Indigenous Americas

Credit Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Pohrt

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 1997.109

Markings

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Provenance

1885, collected by Burton Parker (b. 1844) while agent of the Fort Peck Reservation (Montana, USA);
inherited by Dayton L. Parker (b. 1877);
inherited by Burton C. Parker (b. 1906);
inherited by his wife, Mrs. Jane Parker (Warren, then Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA);
acquired by Richard A. Pohrt [1911-2005] (Flint, Michigan, USA) and his wife, Marion D. Pohrt;
1997-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

Please note: This section is empty

The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback