This Taos Drum has been carefully designed and hand-crafted as a singular work of Native American Art. The close attention to detail you can see is the result of a process which can take more than a year to complete.
To make each drum, the craftspeople combine their individual skill and vision with the finest woods, leathers and out natural, renewable resources. This produces a drum with not only rare quality but also its own appearance and voice. In fact, you may notice subtle changes in the sound of your drum every day as it responds to changes in the temperature, humidity and even the spirit you bring to it.
We invite you to share in the special quality, beauty and age-old traditions of Taos Drums.
What is Tocha?
Tocha aka Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are viewed very positively in most Native American tribes. They are associated with beauty, harmony, industriousness, and integrity. In legends, Hummingbird is often portrayed as a healer or as a spirit being who helps people in need, and sometimes plays the important mythological role of fire-bringer. Seeing a hummingbird is a sign of good luck in many Native American tribes, especially Northwest Coast tribes. In ancient Mexico, hummingbirds were considered sacred and associated with royalty and warriors; the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli, patron god of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, had the hummingbird as his divine animal and was sometimes depicted in hummingbird form in traditional Aztec art. In some Mexican tribes today, hummingbirds are believed to be messengers from the afterworld or manifestations of a dead person’s spirit.
How to care for your drum:
Very little care is needed for your Taos Drum. Keep it dry and store it where it will not be exposed to extremes of humidity and temperature.
An occasional application of TANNERY Leather & Vinyl Cleaner and Conditioner to the rawhide head and lacings will help maintain its appearance and durability. Do not apply to painted area. Be sure to let the surface area dry before placing heavy objects on drums. Note that some initial darkening of the leather may occur in the first 24 hours, after which it will return to its original color.
