Kalinga head axe pangkat class variant

Battara · 12th April 2020, 03:08 AM

Greetings Folks,

I got this not to long ago from eBay. It was a wreck and I had to restore bands, make new nails, and take off much of the red rust off the blade (the blade also had some dents in the edge and a broken point). The bottom nickel-copper part was also coming off, so I find that as well. Finally, the handle stop was broken off, so I made another one and colored it ti match the original patina as best as I could.

Unlike a lot of these from different Igorot tribes, the brass bands are not pierced but "pin prick repousse" only. Also there is a section of the hilt that does not have any nail holes nor any sign it was covered in brass originally.

This is a pangkat class piece, but I am wondering about the meaning of the decoration. Could it be a form of centipede? (see close ups).

I was going to sell this, but I have since changed my mind.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Battara · 12th April 2020, 03:30 AM

Oh I had forgotten these pictures of similar variants:

Sajen · 13th April 2020, 10:30 AM

Very good restore job Jose!

Regards,
Detlef

xasterix · 14th April 2020, 03:43 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaupIRhKZdE

Headaxe and spear- 25:16

It reminds me of that

Ian · 14th April 2020, 10:11 AM

Nice restoration job Jose. You should be working at the Smithsonian.

Battara · 15th April 2020, 03:05 AM

Thank you so much folks.

The Smithsonian..........

Xasterix - nice old film, thanks.

Do you think the designs could be a centipede? A stylized crocodile?

Battara · 17th April 2020, 02:27 AM

From a couple of sources I found out that the symbolic motifs on the brass bands on this piece are snakes.

I will need to firm up these sources.

Battara · 18th April 2020, 05:07 AM

By the way, I found a picture of the piece pre-restoration:

12th April 2020, 03:08 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Kalinga head axe pangkat class variant Greetings Folks, I got this not to long ago from eBay. It was a wreck and I had to restore bands, make new nails, and take off much of the red rust off the blade (the blade also had some dents in the edge and a broken point). The bottom nickel-copper part was also coming off, so I find that as well. Finally, the handle stop was broken off, so I made another one and colored it ti match the original patina as best as I could. Unlike a lot of these from different Igorot tribes, the brass bands are not pierced but "pin prick repousse" only. Also there is a section of the hilt that does not have any nail holes nor any sign it was covered in brass originally. This is a pangkat class piece, but I am wondering about the meaning of the decoration. Could it be a form of centipede? (see close ups). I was going to sell this, but I have since changed my mind. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. Attached Images

12th April 2020, 03:30 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Oh I had forgotten these pictures of similar variants: Attached Images

18th April 2020, 05:07 AM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	By the way, I found a picture of the piece pre-restoration: Attached Images

13th April 2020, 10:30 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Very good restore job Jose! Regards, Detlef

14th April 2020, 03:43 AM	#4
xasterix Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 653	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaupIRhKZdE Headaxe and spear- 25:16 It reminds me of that

14th April 2020, 10:11 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,197	Nice restoration job Jose. You should be working at the Smithsonian.

15th April 2020, 03:05 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Thank you so much folks. The Smithsonian.......... Xasterix - nice old film, thanks. Do you think the designs could be a centipede? A stylized crocodile?

17th April 2020, 02:27 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	From a couple of sources I found out that the symbolic motifs on the brass bands on this piece are snakes. I will need to firm up these sources.