Antique Chinese Marching Drum

A highly unusual antique Chinese Marching Drum

The drum retains its original skin to both the top and bottom of the drum and the top is covered with a number of images and lettering. I have had the these looked at and been told that the images include a king or God (of wealth and prosperity) often depicted riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod. He is also sometimes shown with an iron tool capable of turning stone and iron into gold. This is what he is probably holding in his right hand. He is also wearing a sash with writing on it. This bears the family name of ‘Wong’ and his first name, Zheng Yu. The square tablet of stamped writing is probably telling a story about the owners boat, and how as a businessman his boat helps him to trade over many seas. This is what we have been able to glean from the images etc. The body of the drum is wooden and covered with handpainted images of dragons and stylised motifs.