This makes a powerful sound but is itself quite fragile.

Thunder shakers, sometimes known as thunder makers, are percussion instruments that produce a thunder like sound. A thunder shaker is a strong thick tube with a drum-like membrane on one end and the other end left open.  A long spiral wire spring is attached to the centre of the membrane.

To play the thunder shaker, the tube is held with the wire hanging down. When the tube is shaken the membrane and spring start vibrating to produce the thundery sound. Thunder shakers can also be used to amplify and distort sounds. When you talk or make noises into the open end of a thunder shaker, the membrane vibrates sympathetically making the voice louder while changing the quality of sound.

This artefact is a creative variation on the mass produced thunder shaker, made using a mixture of natural and recycled materials. The tube consists of a section of coconut shell attached to an aluminium drink can with the top and bottom removed to leave a cylinder. The can is attached with glue and secured with a binding of coconut fibre string. By increasing the volume of the space the depth of the sound is increased.

This is a fairtrade product made in Indonesia by small co-operative using locally available materials.