Introduction:

We will be putting up for auction ~60 tribal pieces from the tribal regions in the Philippines, notably from the Mountain Province on Luzon but one or two from Mindanao (Bagobo). See these in Photos 15 to 18. Most of these antique primitive tribal pieces are from the so-called Ifugao and Mt. Province people, the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera in northern Luzon, Philippines. These people are often referred to as the Cordilleran peoples. 

We lived in the Philippines for a decade beginning in 1985. Several times we visited the rugged Mountain Province in northern Luzon and the magnificent rice terraces there (see https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-breathtaking-ifugao-rice-terraces-of-the-philippine-cordilleras), north of Bagio City. Our interest in the life of these peoples was piqued, and as a consequence we built up a modest collection of "primitive artifacts." This collection is wide in nature, most is Colonial era of the early 20th century (some later into the 1950, possibly early 1960s), it includes a magnificent plow, hut ladder, spear, drum, many baskets of various types and utilities, wooden bowls and other wooden objects some with animal or human forms, spoons, textiles, beaded bags, rattan woven hats worn by older men, a rice cutting tool, betel box, gong, and Bulul (rice god) figures on several.

We purchased most of these piece from 1986 to 1989. Almost all were purchased from highly reputable dealers, for example, The Tribal Arts House of Henry N. Beyer in Manila, Tawalisi Antiques of Maria Roxas in Manila, Tucucan Antiques in Bagio City, Artifact and Baskets of Mary Ngalawen in Manila, Herencia Arts & Antiques in Manila. We also purchased pieces at small local shops in Bontoc, the principal city in the Mountain Province.

Please read everything, ask questions, and request more pictures. If you are in Japan, China or the Philippines, and want to bid on a piece, please write to me before bidding. The shipping cost does not include for overseas shipping. An adjustment must be made to shipping. Also, I can combine shipping but the rate needs to reflect the larger shipping box and higher weight. We will ensure the piece is packed well.

The auction item:

This Bagobo Beaded Woven Men's Carrying Bag or Cabir (~64cm L x 16cm W or 25"x6", measured) with horse hair and beaded tassels is beautifully made and has no real damage, as seen in Photos 1 to 13. The series of photos highlight all aspects of this flat carry bag primarily for men: beading, tassel work, horse hair (?) strands, stitching, fabrics including on the back what looks like abaca and ikot design. Everything about this piece from the Philippine Island of Mindanao, likely early 20th c. or pre-WWII, is stunning. Notice in Photo 9 some wear on the back of bag; this piece was used. The beading is phenomenal, great graphic design, in transparent red, white, yellow, blues, and black. The strap has buttons that may be glass. The tassels lengths – possibly wool – are beaded in various colors, including what appears to be clear glass beads. This piece was well cared for. This piece may be quite old. See Photo 14 for an example of a Bagobo Cabir bag from the 19th c.

The Bagobo people are still “people the mountains” of Mindanao between the crest of the range near the volcanic Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, and the waters at the western side of the head of the Gulf of Davao. These people have a population of some ten or twelve thousand, still largely pagan. For more information see: https://www.penn.museum/sites/journal/516/ as originally published in 1916.

We purchased this piece in ~1986, nearly ~40 years ago. The piece has received very little handling by us, just displayed in our home out of direct sunlight.

No pets, no smoking.

Our story:

We lived in the Philippines for nearly a decade beginning in 1985. From 1986 to 1989, we collected a number of old tribal artifacts. Our pieces were represented as being from the late 19th century to pre-WWII.  We are now selling these pieces as we downsize. We are not experts, we cannot authenticate our pieces. These pieces, the vast majority at least, look quite old. We genuinely believe these are vintage genuine pieces, each with their own charm. Just holding an item that may be 120 to 70 years old from the Mountain Provence of the Philippines makes for great conversation. 

Two sources we've relied on are, "The People and Art of the Philippines", by Father Gabriel Casal, Regalado Trota Jose, Jr. and others, 1981, Museum of Cultural History, University of California, Los Angeles. The second was published in July-August 1983, in Arts of Asia, "Northern Philippines Primitive Wooden Art," by Pynky Gomez Garcia, pages 84-93. 


Thank you for looking.