N. Philippine Headhunter's Skull Armband

Description

A dramatic and stunning old warrior's armband. Very skillfully hand made of woven rattan over a circular brass frame with cut sheet brass structure connected to an animal skull which appears to be a "Civet" or a Rodent? The eyes are inset with cut mother-of-pearl disks and it is decorated with traditional Ilongot dangling pendants made of twisted copper wire with delicately cut pieces of mother-of-pearl and accented with white, red and black glass trade beads. In good condition with two missing shells. This spectacular example shows wear and use and would have been worn by a male to likely indicate his high status in the village or to communicate to his enemies that he has taken a head! It is important to note that the design of this emblem of power is very similar to the "panglao" headdress also worn by warriors.

Origin: N. Luzon, Philippines, Ilongot People