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Philippines Igorot Carved Wood Head Hunters Shield

About the Item

This is a Kalinga shield that is used by warriors who are headhunters from the Northern mountainous region of the Philippines. Art meets utility in this shield which has three prongs at the top top and two prongs on the bottom. Shields have a very important use in Kalinga and Igorot culture as a whole and include many cultural motifs. important to Kalinga culture. This shield shows some signs of use, and there are some scratches to the finish. It is possible that it was used. The prong formation of the shield was useful in battle and symbolic in meaning. In battle, it was thought that Igorot warriors would use the top prongs to disable their enemies by tripping them, then using the bottom two prongs to immobilize their heads, according to research by the University of Michigan. . This goes along with the Igorot reputation of being “headhunters,” in which they would collect the heads of their enemies for display when in battle. When held upright, the shield looks like a rough depiction of a human, with the two bottom prongs appearing to look like legs, while the three top prongs look like a head with raised arms. Fascinating piece.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 12.5 in (31.75 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Style:
    Primitive (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1960s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
  • Seller Location:
    Lomita, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6651242043752

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