SEA (?) Monkey Skull Head Gear

[David]

Can anyone ID these. A friend of mine just found them at a flea market. I'm thinking SEA, maybe the Philippines or Borneo. What say ye?

[David]

Any ideas guys?

[Nonoy Tan]

Ifugao

[A Senefelder]

It reminds me of some of the Naga stuff I was seeing on ebay back in the earlier 2000's http://bowersmuseum.blogspot.com/200...ad-takers.html

[LJ]

A good reference is The Nagas, Hill Peoples of Northeast India (1990) by Julian Jacobs. He illustrates several "head takers baskets" that often have bits (like feathers, horns, tassels, etc attached. I wonder if these are the remains of baskets rather than headgear?

The other possibility I would look at is Indonesia. Dayak perhaps?

[LJ]

Thanks to Nonoy Tan for the enigmatic lead. I've just googled the meaning of Ifugao, thinking it was an abbreviation for a phrase [like i.m.h.o.]. And seen photos of Ifugao people in the Philippines wearing hats.

[Sajen]

Agree with Nonoy, Ifugao.

Regards,
Detlef

[asomotif]

Is somone going to mention the "spray paint"patina ?

Best regards,
Willem

[David]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Is someone going to mention the "spray paint"patina?

Well Willem, i guess you are…
I have not had any opportunity to view these objects in person. These were cell phone photos i took from my friend's FB page. So i will reserve any comment on patina, spayed on or otherwise, until i can actually examine these in person. However, i am more concerned with their origins then whether or not they were created for a tourist market or not. They were found in a flea market and the seller called them "Voodoo Hats", apparently oblivious to their true origins. They were BOTH bought for the price of one good dinner, which when you consider that monkey skulls just by themselves range from about $150 on up depending on the type of skull, was a pretty good deal. I am more trying to pin down the culture they belong so i wasn't really noticing if they had been artificially aged or not.
So, do you agree with Ifugao or do you have some other idea?

[asomotif]

Yes David, they look Ifugao-ish.

I found this quote on the web.
Google pictures will provide a lot of recent examples if you search for "ifugao headdress". I enclose one of them :-)

Headdress
Chenevière 1987 p186
"During a special ritual for the anitos, the clan chiefs wear ceremonial headdresses displaying the tusks of wart hogs, symbol of strength and courage, and the beak of the calao, the bird considered to be the messenger of the gods. For coming-of-age ceremonies, monkeys' heads suffice, as the animals are held to be the privileged accomplices of the spirits, who are invoked with laughter and jokes. ... [A]ccording to magic custom, the skull must look in the same direction as the person wearing it."

* Howard 2000 p43
"The feather- and skull-adorned [hats] are ceremonial headdresses."

[David]

Thanks Willem. I looked through google's collection of images of Ifugao head dress as well. It does seem that most of these involve textiles as well which i do not see on these, so it causes some hesitation on the identification.