Ethnographic Headhunting Relic – Two-Headed Trophy, Philippines Ifugao Igorot - similar to dayak of Indonesia
An exceptional ethnographic relic from the Ifugao/Igorot tribes of the Philippines, this rare two-headed skull trophy reflects traditional headhunting practices, closely resembling similar ritual artifacts of the Dayak people of Indonesia. Once regarded as a symbol of valor and tribal identity, this antique piece embodies both artistry and cultural heritage, making it a remarkable addition for serious collectors of ethnographic and tribal artifacts.
£3,010.57
Headhunting Practices & Cultural Significance
An important ethnographic artifact reflecting Ifugao/Igorot ritual culture in the Philippine Cordilleras, with closely related forms known among the Dayak peoples of Borneo. Preserved as a historical collectible for museums, researchers, and serious private collections.
- Rare two-headed trophy format associated with prestige and ritual status
- Cordillera provenance with cross-cultural parallels in Southeast Asia
- Scholarly interest for anthropology, ritual studies, and material culture
| Region / People | Ifugao / Igorot, Cordillera, Philippines (with Dayak comparanda) |
| Form | Two-headed skull trophy (ritual/ceremonial context) |
| Dimensions | 34 × 11 in |
| Collection Note | From a larger assemblage of Philippine tribal art |
Read historical & anthropological context
Historical Headhunting
The taking and preservation of heads—known broadly as headhunting—was historically recorded across Oceania, Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe into the 19th century. Beyond warfare, it often held social and religious significance.
Cultural Context
Among the Ifugao of the Philippines, headhunting intersected with resistance to colonization and functioned as a marker of manhood, status, and spiritual protection. Similar roles appear in neighboring cultures, where ritualized practices reinforced community structure and alliances.
Anthropological Studies
Scholarship emphasizes the ritual economy of headhunting—its role in hierarchy, exchange, and notions of vitality or “soul-matter.” Such perspectives help situate artifacts like this within a broader framework of belief and practice.
Modern Practices
While human headhunting has largely disappeared, some groups (e.g., Mappurondo in Sulawesi) adapted traditions by employing surrogate objects, reflecting continued reverence for ancestral rites without human targets.
Ifugao/Igorot “Changit” (Skull Trophy)
In the Cordillera, skull trophies—locally referenced in some accounts as changit—were prestigious, linked to ceremony and communal identity. Although outlawed in the early 20th century (1913), reports suggest vestiges persisted into the mid-century, after which pieces entered collections as historic ethnographic artifacts.
Artifact Description
This mounted two-headed trophy, presented on board (with pig skull in some examples), embodies the warrior aesthetics, ritual symbolism, and spiritual potency referenced in oral histories and early ethnographies. Its presence offers a tangible lens on Cordillera belief and social life.
Collector appeal: rare form, strong ethnographic context, and museum-level discussion value. A centerpiece for a focused Southeast Asian or Philippine tribal art collection.
- Availability: 1 In Stock