A WOOD SHIELD "KALASAG"

Description:

Philippines South, Mindanao, Pinoy-(Lumad-)Ethnien, Bagobo
108 x 45 cm
This monumental shield, which is flat and rectangular in profile, is crafted from medium-hard wood and reinforced with rectangular humped metal elements and two horizontal rattan rods. In the foreground sits the raised round shield boss, in the centre of which is a pane of mirrored glass. Tufts of black goat's hair emerge from this hump like rays, giving the whole the impression of a staring eye. The reflective effect of the disc repels harmful influences and evil spirits. Geometric fluting runs along the length of the disc. The edge of the shield is elegantly waisted several times. Tufts of hair are also inserted here, which are only preserved in rudimentary form. The shield is partially painted black. The base is straight. The shields of the Lumad ethnic groups differ clearly from the round shields of the Indo-Persian type of the neighbouring Muslim ‘Moro’ (Tausug, Illanún, Yaka and others). Such shields are specific to the Lumad cultures in Mindanao, especially to the Bagobo, one of the largest non-Islamised ethnic groups in Mindanao. Lumad is a Cebuano term for ‘native’ or ‘indigenous’. It is short for katawang Lumad (indigenous people) and was introduced as a self-description in 1986 by the Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation (LMPF). It refers to the indigenous peoples of Mindanao who have not been Christianised or Islamised and still maintain their old traditions. These include the following groups, among others: Bilaan, Mamanwa, Manobo, Manobo Bilit, Manobo Tasaday, Mandaya, Mansaka, Kalagan, T'boli, Subanu and Tiruray. Many of these ethnic groups are known for their excellent metal craftsmanship, especially for yellow casting. The cultivation of rice is linked to religious beliefs and practices among the Lumad. When Orion appears in the sky in December, this is the signal for the ceremony of the great annual sacrifice and prayers to the agricultural cultural heroes Manama and Taragomi. In the past, this occasion also required ritual warfare with headhunting, which has long been uncommon due to Indian-Hindu influences. Nevertheless, shields and weapons are still important symbols of fertility.
From an old German private collection, assembled in the 1950s - Traces of age, partially slightly chipped