Together with Jamie Tehrani I have recently been doing some work on mathematical modelling of development of the carvings on Austral Islands drums, and comparing it with a "think it out from scratch" approach. I can get much of the data from photographs, but there is one drum for which I don't have an image. It was discussed by Stolpe in his seminal paper on development of Central Polynesian carvings, and at that time (1890) it was in Berlin. It should be in the Museum fur Volkerkunde in Berlin, but I can't find the relevant contact details.
Does anybody know who to contact in Berlin for queries about their Polynesian collections? Also, if anybody out there is sitting (not literally!) on an Austral Islands drum that I might not know about, I would be very grateful if you would get into contact.
Leslie Jessop
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