This pair of clappers is made in the form of a lotus flower, a symbol of rebirth. Clappers were a type of percussion instrument, along with included hand-held drums, rattles, castanets and bells. They consisted of two pieces made of wood, bone, metal, ivory or other materials. They were held either in both hands, or fastened together and held in one hand. Some clappers were shaped like arms and hands, suggesting that they began as extensions of natural body sounds like hand clapping.