Tangkil (d)

An example of tangkil/abkil made of wood instead of boar’s tusks

A closer look at the tangkil’s wooden human figurine carved like its left hand is on its cheek

A closer look at the tangkil’s hair made of pine needles

Basket work is used to attach the human figurine to the wooden armband

A closer look at the plaited basket work that reinforced the wooden armband

LOCAL NAME:

Tangkil (d)

ENGLISH NAME:

Wooden armband

DESCRIPTION:

An armband carved from wood, featuring an anthropomorphic figure securely attached and reinforced with rattan strips for durability. To mimic human hair, pine needles are thoughtfully added to the head of the human figurine.

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Bontoc, Mountain Province, Ifugao

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Pine needles, Rattan, Wood

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

DIMENSIONS:

Armband
Diameter: 13 cm

Anthropomorphic figure: Height: 10 cm

Hair
Length: 3.5 cm

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

DISPLAY STATUS:

BURC

RESEARCH DATA:

Recognized as tangkil, abkil, or tangka, this armband is a traditional accessory commonly worn by affluent Bontoc men on the upper arm. A distinctive feature of this ornament is the addition of a hair appendage, a practice implemented after a man attains warrior status. This symbolic inclusion is believed to represent the success of the warrior in battle, with the hairs attached to the tangkil serving as tangible evidence of victorious encounters (Mittersakschmoller, 2009).

REFERENCES:

Maramba, R. (1998). Form and Splendor: Personal Adornment of Northern Luzon Ethnic Group. Manila: Bookmark, Inc.

Mittersakschmoller, R. (2009). Alexander Schadenberg: Photographing cultures on Luzon. In B.Bohle, U. Brandl-Straka, S. Kuhnt-Saptodewo, & O. Moiseanu (Eds.), Museum of Ethnology Vienna: The Philippines: Early collections (pp. 17-88). Museum fur Volkerkunde.

Tangkil (d)

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