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Akosan (b)

LOCAL NAME:

Akosan (b)

ENGLISH NAME:

Shell belt

DESCRIPTION:

An ivory belt adorned with cone shells, designed to be worn by women and revered as a crucial ritual paraphernalia for the ritual specialist among the Itneg (Tingguian) community in Abra.

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Bontoc, Mountain Province, Abra

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Cone shells, Brass, Handwoven textile

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

90

DIMENSIONS:

Length: 69 cm

Fringe
Length: 17 cm

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

DISPLAY STATUS:

BURC

RESEARCH DATA:

Crafted from handwoven textile strung with ivories and embellished with cone shells, this belt holds sacred significance as a ritual object among the Itneg. Specifically utilized by the mandadawak, or ritual specialist, these belts play a vital role in healing rites and ceremonies within the Tingguian/Itneg community. Regarded as family heirlooms, these belts are not only ornamental but also carry deep cultural and spiritual significance.

REFERENCES:

Maramba, R. (1998). Form and Splendor: Personal Adornment of Northern Luzon Ethnic Group. Manila: Bookmark, Inc.
Cole, Fay Cooper. (1922). The Tingguian: Social, Religious and Economic of a Philippine Tribe. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History.

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