The rain drum gets it's name from the beautiful sounds it makes when being struck by the heavy monsoon rains of Southeast Asia. These drums are made of bronze and cast using an ancient lost-wax technique that allowed them to be sculpted with very great detail.

Depending on where they are made, they go by different names. In Vietnam, they are called Dong Son Rain Drum after the the dynasty and location from which they were first found. In Thailand they are called Thai Bronze Rain Drum and in Laos they are called Laos Style Rain Drum.

The oldest rain drums discovered were in the Vinh Phuc Province in Vietnam. These ancient rain drums have been dated from 1,500 B.C. It is also widely acknowledged that this form of art originated from China in the Yunnan Province up to 1,000 years earlier than the drums discovered in Vinh Phuc.

All of the rain drums feature detailed motifs which symbolize lucky spirits.They often depict frogs, buffalo, elephants, the sun, palms, turtles, fish and many other natural forms. It was believed that these lucky spirits would ensure a healthy rain, and so a good harvest in the coming year. The frog is a common theme with rain drums, it was believed that the Thunder God was afraid of the frog that would pacify the cacophonous thunder. The frog is also associated with the spring rains, when they croak loudly in April it is a time of happiness.

The remarkable details and beautiful bronze patina make the  rain drum a popular item for the garden or inside the home. They can be fitted with a glass top and used as a table or simply placed in the garden to wait for the rain to tap on them and make a beautiful sound.

The Richard Gervais Collection has a diverse selection of rain drums. To see them all, browse the Articfacts section or click HERE.