Tabl Sami

Art Historical Context

The object shown is a wooden goblet drum viewed from above and slightly to the side. Its broad, circular head is covered with a single sheet of light-brown hide that shows subtle creases and wear from use. Around the rim, a band of leather secures the head with evenly spaced metal studs, while thin cords laced in a repeating V-pattern descend the flared wooden body, anchoring the tensioning system. The wood itself has a warm, natural tone and visible grain, with the narrower base cut straight across to rest on a surface. This instrument is catalogued as a Tabl Sami, a single-headed membranophone from Arabian culture. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1889 as part of the Crosby Brown Collection, it dates to the late nineteenth century and is constructed primarily of wood. Such drums were valued for their resonant tone and portability, serving both in ensemble music and solo performance across the Arabian Peninsula. The visible lacing and stud construction illustrate traditional methods of attaching and tuning the head, techniques that allowed players to adjust pitch by tightening the cords. Its presence in the museum’s musical-instrument holdings underscores the long-standing role of percussion in the region’s artistic heritage.