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 10 to 13. 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. 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 19th century "Maranao" Betel Box with a hinged lid and side handles is made of bronze (too hard to be brass) with silver inlay. Lid opens to reveal four hinged doors, with a large middle compartment, and two smaller side compartments once meant to hold betel nuts, betel leaves, and slaked lime paste. Lid hinges back to form a tray for preparation. Alternatively, the four compartments (technically three) accommodate four ingredients of the betel chew: fresh pepper leaves (buyo) and one leaf is in the left side, areca nut (bunga) in the left center, lime powder (apug) on the rightmost compartment, and damp tobacco leaves in the center right. The box is ~18cm L x 8cm W x 8.5cm H, or 7"x~3.5"x 3.5", measured and beautifully made and has no damage, as seen in Photos 1 to 8. The box weighs 3 pounds 13 ounces. Photo 9 shows the exact same box as published in Plate XIV in "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 symmetrical pattern on the box is called the okir scroll, the most distinctive motif of Maranao carving but expressed in metal. The motif is exemplified by vines radiating from a central point and terminating in buds. This piece was well cared for but in full disclosure we have left the lime intact and we have elected to not polish the silver inlay or bronze housing. This piece is quite old. 

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.