Igorot armour: A Bontoc dancing shield

VANDOO · 18th October 2014, 01:16 AM

JUST LOOKING AT IT ELIMINATES CHILD'S SHIELD OR TOURIST ITEM SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN A SUITCASE. I THINK THE BONTOK JUST USED THEIR REGULAR SHIELDS FOR DANCING SO SHAMANS SHIELD WOULD FIT. PERHAPS THE FACE REPRESENTED A POWERFUL ANCESTOR AND PROTECTED THE MEDICINE MAN FROM EVIL SPIRITS AS WELL AS SCARING EVIL SPIRITS AWAY FROM THE PATIENTS. THE PATINA AND WEAR WOULD ALSO INDICATE SOMETHING OLD THAT SPENT MOST OF ITS TIME HANGING IN A SMOKY HUT.
HOPEFULLY SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH SHAMANISM IN THE PHILIPPINES CAN GIVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERESTING ITEM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

18th October 2014, 01:16 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	JUST LOOKING AT IT ELIMINATES CHILD'S SHIELD OR TOURIST ITEM SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT IN A SUITCASE. I THINK THE BONTOK JUST USED THEIR REGULAR SHIELDS FOR DANCING SO SHAMANS SHIELD WOULD FIT. PERHAPS THE FACE REPRESENTED A POWERFUL ANCESTOR AND PROTECTED THE MEDICINE MAN FROM EVIL SPIRITS AS WELL AS SCARING EVIL SPIRITS AWAY FROM THE PATIENTS. THE PATINA AND WEAR WOULD ALSO INDICATE SOMETHING OLD THAT SPENT MOST OF ITS TIME HANGING IN A SMOKY HUT. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH SHAMANISM IN THE PHILIPPINES CAN GIVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERESTING ITEM.