Bontoc Sword

[ThePepperSkull]

the ones similar to this that I see being made today are usually lower quality in terms of modern-made N. Luzon tribal standards, and intended for tourist sale. (although I should add that from my experience, I find modern Igorot pieces made for locals to still be of very high quality, again in terms of N. Luzon tribal standards. the rattan weaving is still excellent, as is the formation of the socketed handles, and the blades are still relatively thick)

By looking at it, it seems to me this piece is better quality than those tourist ones I mentioned. Cosmetically at least. Maybe not as good as their functional counterparts, but better than modern tourist blades. It's interesting that in general, as recently as the 1970's blades throughout the philippines were made to a higher standard. Blades and fittings being made with more care, being thicker-spined, higher quality carvings, some examples from mindanao even being layered. (Though admittedly by "higher standard" I mean cosmetically rather than functionally as modern ethnographic pieces made with the intention for local use are still incredibly tough/durable for their intended uses... tourist pieces are not though.)

As a collector of mostly modern-made blades myself, pieces like this make me wonder when this shift occured and why.

Thanks for sharing this, Tatyana!