Wooden Igorot shield

Sajen · 15th April 2012, 10:04 PM

Hello Pieje,

welcome to the forum. Nice looking shield which seems to be extremely used. I am not an expert but here are others who know very good about these area of collecting. I would guess that it is a warrior shield from beginng of the 20th century. What are the reinforcing at the sides of the shield? It is most probable a Bontoc shield.

Regards,

Detlef

Battara · 16th April 2012, 01:50 AM

I agree with Sajen that it is beginning of the 20 century and Bontoc tribe (one of the Igorot tribes).

Pieje · 16th April 2012, 08:35 AM

Thanks!
This reinforcing is a sort of iron web on both sides of the shield.

Indianajones · 16th April 2012, 11:30 AM

Hello Pieje, wel actually -as I am a long time collector of N.-Philippine tribal art- this however typically looking Bontoc-Igorot shield could firstly be older than expected; I reckognise the yellowishness of the wood and it is probably very dry; it may be slightly older than 1900.
Interesting enough your shield has a few 'features' I have not seen before! 1. is the 'strange' lashing. Normally these shields have a woven rattanband -like yours has- running accross and fixated with (only) criscross going 'stitches'. Yours has a sort of praralel running rattanlines also (above n below)
2. the very ends of each projection or 'legs' have notches carved in them.

The tribal name for these shields is 'kalasag' , which name surprisingly is shared by almost all tribes in Luzon.

The 'damaged' sides of the shield are actually a good sign of authentic use. During wartime (before and/or after) all warriors would celebrate and while walking in a row tap with a stick on the sides of their shield. These shields where therefore also sometimes reffered to 'gaklab' ; sound of tapping on the shields.

Because of these features I suspect your shield could also be from South -Kalinga tribe (North of Bontoc). I also have -now I remember- a set of Mother of pearlornaments which also show these carved notches on the sides.

congrats with this nice shield.Best,

Pieje · 16th April 2012, 07:29 PM

Thanks for this very detailed reply, I appreciate. Nice to know it’s very likely a good piece. Circa 1900 is much more than I expected.
Any idea about the iron wiring on both edges?

Indianajones · 16th April 2012, 08:54 PM

The iron additions are probably of American soldier items (perhaps the iron innerwork of military verhicletires??) which they got hold of -including the nails- and added to the shield to protect it extra from the sides from blows of headaxes.
Although the South Kalinga's and Bontocs have lots in (cultural) common, they are also since early times (headhunting/killing) enemies from eachother.
I suppose these additions were done AFTER the actual manufacture of the shield? They are in any way certainly very practical in the sense of warfare and actual war-use of the shield.
Glad to help
(I'l look up n post a picture of a South Kalinga which is stored in my other comp. soon)

Pieje · 17th April 2012, 09:16 AM

Thanks.
Yes, the iron reinforcing seems to be done later, nails are only used at the edge to keep the iron wiring in place. The wood is indeed very dry and light. The shield measures 86cm in height.

Indianajones · 17th April 2012, 10:04 AM

Picture of South Kalinga with the 'governor' at right (written in white at border) holding a shield and a headaxe.
It says 'Lubuagan Kalinga' underneath which is a town actually between the North and South Kalinga (-influence zone). This town is also along the (only) road from Bontoc (tribe and town) into the Kalinga territory and any military "activity" coming from the South would have used this road (; source of iron/foreign material).
The North Kalinga use a different and quite more elegant type of shield; slender, long and with a diamondshaped 'bud' at the front.

Now all you need is a headaxe aand a spear and your 'Do-it-yourself headhunting set' is complete

Another detail; the reason why the left part of the griphole is larger than the right is because a warrior would hold these shields using only the middle three fingers (left hand; right hand is for holding the headaxe), leaving the tiny and the thumb outside for easy tilting the shield foreward/backwards when dualing. This is why sometimes there is a shiny spot in the "NorthEastern' direction above the grip.

Several of the shields I own also show tiny elongated triangular cuts/piercings in the wood on the front, which have been made by blows of headaxes.

Best,

15th April 2012, 10:04 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,270	Hello Pieje, welcome to the forum. Nice looking shield which seems to be extremely used. I am not an expert but here are others who know very good about these area of collecting. I would guess that it is a warrior shield from beginng of the 20th century. What are the reinforcing at the sides of the shield? It is most probable a Bontoc shield. Regards, Detlef Last edited by Sajen; 15th April 2012 at 10:47 PM.

16th April 2012, 11:30 AM	#4
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hello Pieje, wel actually -as I am a long time collector of N.-Philippine tribal art- this however typically looking Bontoc-Igorot shield could firstly be older than expected; I reckognise the yellowishness of the wood and it is probably very dry; it may be slightly older than 1900. Interesting enough your shield has a few 'features' I have not seen before! 1. is the 'strange' lashing. Normally these shields have a woven rattanband -like yours has- running accross and fixated with (only) criscross going 'stitches'. Yours has a sort of praralel running rattanlines also (above n below) 2. the very ends of each projection or 'legs' have notches carved in them. The tribal name for these shields is 'kalasag' , which name surprisingly is shared by almost all tribes in Luzon. The 'damaged' sides of the shield are actually a good sign of authentic use. During wartime (before and/or after) all warriors would celebrate and while walking in a row tap with a stick on the sides of their shield. These shields where therefore also sometimes reffered to 'gaklab' ; sound of tapping on the shields. Because of these features I suspect your shield could also be from South -Kalinga tribe (North of Bontoc). I also have -now I remember- a set of Mother of pearlornaments which also show these carved notches on the sides. congrats with this nice shield.Best, Last edited by Indianajones; 16th April 2012 at 11:41 AM.

17th April 2012, 10:04 AM	#8
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Picture of South Kalinga with the 'governor' at right (written in white at border) holding a shield and a headaxe. It says 'Lubuagan Kalinga' underneath which is a town actually between the North and South Kalinga (-influence zone). This town is also along the (only) road from Bontoc (tribe and town) into the Kalinga territory and any military "activity" coming from the South would have used this road (; source of iron/foreign material). The North Kalinga use a different and quite more elegant type of shield; slender, long and with a diamondshaped 'bud' at the front. Now all you need is a headaxe aand a spear and your 'Do-it-yourself headhunting set' is complete Another detail; the reason why the left part of the griphole is larger than the right is because a warrior would hold these shields using only the middle three fingers (left hand; right hand is for holding the headaxe), leaving the tiny and the thumb outside for easy tilting the shield foreward/backwards when dualing. This is why sometimes there is a shiny spot in the "NorthEastern' direction above the grip. Several of the shields I own also show tiny elongated triangular cuts/piercings in the wood on the front, which have been made by blows of headaxes. Best, Attached Images

16th April 2012, 01:50 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,308	I agree with Sajen that it is beginning of the 20 century and Bontoc tribe (one of the Igorot tribes).

16th April 2012, 08:35 AM	#3
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Thanks! This reinforcing is a sort of iron web on both sides of the shield.

16th April 2012, 07:29 PM	#5
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Thanks for this very detailed reply, I appreciate. Nice to know it’s very likely a good piece. Circa 1900 is much more than I expected. Any idea about the iron wiring on both edges?

16th April 2012, 08:54 PM	#6
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	The iron additions are probably of American soldier items (perhaps the iron innerwork of military verhicletires??) which they got hold of -including the nails- and added to the shield to protect it extra from the sides from blows of headaxes. Although the South Kalinga's and Bontocs have lots in (cultural) common, they are also since early times (headhunting/killing) enemies from eachother. I suppose these additions were done AFTER the actual manufacture of the shield? They are in any way certainly very practical in the sense of warfare and actual war-use of the shield. Glad to help (I'l look up n post a picture of a South Kalinga which is stored in my other comp. soon)

17th April 2012, 09:16 AM	#7
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Thanks. Yes, the iron reinforcing seems to be done later, nails are only used at the edge to keep the iron wiring in place. The wood is indeed very dry and light. The shield measures 86cm in height.