Chinese Drums — Ceremonial, Temple & Stage
Hide heads on hand-built wooden shells, made in the sizes used for temple ceremony, festival performance and stage work.
The Drum That Keeps the Rite
The drum is the oldest instrument in Chinese ritual — it marks time for ceremony, sets the pace for procession, and carries across an open square in a way no string or wind instrument can.
A traditional drum is built in two halves: the shell, staved and hooped in wood, and the head, stretched hide tacked or laced under tension. How the head is tensioned determines the pitch and the attack. That is the part that cannot be mechanised.
Craft Grades
Every line is graded the same way: by how much of the work is done by hand, what it is made of, and how the finish is treated. The grade is stated on your quotation so you know exactly what you are buying.
Pricing depends on size, craft grade and order quantity. Request a quote for your specification.
Hand-built
The form is made by hand throughout — thrown, modelled or built up.
Hand-finished
The form may be press-moulded or cast, but all finishing, carving and decoration is done by hand.
Studio grade
Hand work on a controlled form, with the maker's own glazes or patinas.
Presentation grade
The highest hand-work content in the line, selected for finish and consistency. Intended for gift and collection channels.
Typical Specifications
- Drum head diameter
- 20–100 cm
- Body height
- 8–100 cm
- Body
- Wood staves, hide heads
Custom Work
Size — from hand-held to floor-standing ceremonial sizes. Shell — wood species and finish to your specification. Head — hide type and tensioning method. Marking — your logo can be applied to the shell.
Request a Quote
Tell us the craft line, the form, the quantity and the destination. We will come back with a quotation, lead time and packing details for your specification.