Tar Drum

This tar drum is a shallow frame drum made with a red-painted wooden rim and a single goatskin drumhead. The drumhead is decorated with henna-dyed arabesque patterns, including flowers, snakes, scorpions and handprints. A small thumb hole in the frame allows the drum to be held comfortably and securely while playing.​

History

The tar is a traditional single-headed frame drum used across the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, especially in the Hijaz region, it has long been used alongside poetry, storytelling and music. The tar remains an important part of social gatherings and ceremonial traditions.​

_{Choosing an artifact and creating a fictional story about it from the collection of Art of Heritage and Asaan.}