Philippines, Ifugao people
1900 or before
Carved wood with glossy dark patina
Height 6 1/4 in (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
Among the Ifugao of the Cordillera highlands of Luzon, prestige spoons carved with ancestral figures served both practical and ceremonial functions, used during ritual feasting and the negotiation of social status. The bulul or ancestral figure type appearing on this spoon connects the object to the broader Ifugao tradition of carving guardian spirits into utilitarian forms. The integration of a human figure into the handle reflects the Ifugao belief that objects of daily use could carry protective spiritual agency.
The carving is executed with economy and confidence, the figure rendered with a flattened face, squared shoulders, and compact body proportions characteristic of Ifugao workshop tradition. The glossy dark patina indicates sustained handling and age, developing through years of use and contact with the hands and food materials. The piece retains strong formal presence at a modest scale.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Philippines, Ifugao people
1900 or before
Carved wood with glossy dark patina
Height 6 1/4 in (15.9 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
Among the Ifugao of the Cordillera highlands of Luzon, prestige spoons carved with ancestral figures served both practical and ceremonial functions, used during ritual feasting and the negotiation of social status. The bulul or ancestral figure type appearing on this spoon connects the object to the broader Ifugao tradition of carving guardian spirits into utilitarian forms. The integration of a human figure into the handle reflects the Ifugao belief that objects of daily use could carry protective spiritual agency.
The carving is executed with economy and confidence, the figure rendered with a flattened face, squared shoulders, and compact body proportions characteristic of Ifugao workshop tradition. The glossy dark patina indicates sustained handling and age, developing through years of use and contact with the hands and food materials. The piece retains strong formal presence at a modest scale.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
