Description
The sculptural (three-dimensional) head of the Thunderbird is beaded in shades of green with orange details. It has a large, menacing mouth and a sharp, orange tongue; around his neck hang imitation flicker feathers.
The body of the Thunderbird - from the bottom of its amulet head to its feather fan tail - stretches across the surface of the hand drum with a (two-dimensional) stylized body. Set against a golden yellow background, its massive wings are painted in bright greens and oranges; his neck, body, and claws a stark black. Orange sacred spots run along the outer edge of the wing; black thunder bolts radiate from below.
The outer edge of the drum is decorated with a painted orange and black pattern. The sides are painted bright orange; one side of the drum is left unadorned, the other, running along the "body" of the Thunderbird, is decorated with a lattigo leather strip, patches of beadwork, brass tacks, brass bell and glass trade bead dangles, and a feather fan made of imitation red tail hawk feathers and a feather fluff.
The drum is made of rawhide stretched across a wooden rim. It is painted with commercial paints, dyes and stains.
The piece is signed by the artist.