With Cord from Indonesia (SKU 5757)
This Indonesian shaker is made from Pangium seed husks tied onto a thick natural fibre loop that fits around the wrist or ankle. It creates a deep, textured sound when moved, clapped or brushed, and is often used in traditional dance and movement practices. The seeds are a by-product of Indonesian cuisine and carry cultural value both in cooking and ceremony. Each shaker is unique, with subtle variations in sound and shape. More information can be found below.
Dimensions: 22 x 11 cm. Cord length: 12 cm.
Indonesian Seed Shakers – Upcycled Natural Rhythm Instruments
These bold, earthy seed shakers are handmade in Indonesia from large Pangium seed husks, a by-product of local cuisine. Once the seeds are removed for use in cooking or pressed for oil, the leftover husks are cleaned, dried and repurposed into natural percussion instruments. Strung on thick natural twine and attached either to a bamboo handle or formed into a wrist loop, they produce a dry, full, crunchy tone that carries well in both open and indoor spaces.
There are two styles available. The handle version features a smooth bamboo grip, finished with decorative burnt etching. It offers excellent control and is suited for musicians, facilitators or sound practitioners who want to direct and contain the sound. The corded version has a loop designed to fit around the wrist or ankle and is often worn in traditional Indonesian dance or community drumming. It can also be handheld for a more casual or layered playing style.
Pangium seeds, known as Kluwat or Kluwak in Indonesia, are a key ingredient in traditional dishes such as rawon, a black beef soup. The seeds come from the Pangium edule tree, native to Southeast Asia. Though naturally toxic due to their cyanide content, they are made safe for consumption through a traditional process of boiling, burying and fermentation. Once the seeds are extracted, the hard outer husks are often discarded. In this case, they are given new life as musical instruments.
In Indonesian ritual and cultural practices, seed rattles like these are used to connect with the natural world, mark sacred transitions and call in rhythm during movement and ceremony. The sound is grounding and elemental, with each shaker offering a unique tone and tactile quality.
These instruments are made using low-waste, sustainable methods. Slight variations in shape, sound and finish are natural and part of their handmade character.
Dimensions: Handle version: 27 x 11 cm. Corded version: 22 x 11 cm Cord length: 12 cm.
Other names: Percussion instrument, rattle, Maraca
