Existing comment:
Kettle Drums
1779
Franz Peter Bunsen Hanoverian (German)
Silver kettle drums were the ultimate ceremonial instrument. King George III presented this set to his royal guard. The stylish exteriors, including reliefs of his coat of arms, reflect the latest advancements hidden within, which allow the musician to vary the intensity of the instrument's sound. Together the drums weigh about 53 pounds, representing a small fortune in silver. Draped in embroidered crimson banners and mounted on either side of a saddle at the head of a royal parade, the instruments conveyed an impression of power and prosperity, demonstrating the richness of the king's lands. |