Shark knife "bolo", "pinahia" or "pika", with shell belt "ginutto"/ "ginuktu"

Estimated Value:

1.200 € - 1.800 €

Result:

incl. Premium and VAT

Description:

Luzon, Philippines, Igorot groups, early 20th cent.
L. 56 cm
Steel, wood, rattan, shell limestone. A prestigious shark knife bolo of the Igorot on Luzon. The knife is skilfully forged from a single piece of steel; the handle is braided in wide bands of rattan. The basic type with the forged integral handle is known throughout the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan (as matagi-to) and is very robust and durable due to its construction. The knives are often made by specialised (often Chinese) Chinese blacksmiths and are of remarkable quality. They are usually forged from high-quality materials using composite technology and selectively hardened. The hard use in everyday life, which covers a wide range of tasks, places high demands; they are often the only tools available.
From an old German private collection, collected since the 1950s
The Igorot groups have developed very specific bolo (shark knives), which they wear on special occasions on a special carrying device, namely on belts with perforated discs from the closure caps of the giant clam Tridacna giga, which are particularly valuable in the mountains. The belts are looped around the waist and fastened with a hook fastener. The bolo sheath with the knife is hung from this belt with a rattan or textile cord. Sometimes an additional shorter strap is sewn to the belt, also with shell discs, which then also falls to the wearer's knees. The shell discs are regarded as precious; knives of this type with belts are highly valued prestige goods (and very rare today). The shell discs were cut from cone shells and the tridakna giga, ground smooth and rounded at the edges; they are round in shape and vary in size. In the more precious pieces like this one, the diameter increases from the beginning of a band to the end. The shell ornament is known as the sun symbol ginuktu. In the literature, the complete belt with or without an additional sun disc is also called ginuktu. The sun symbolism of the discs and the emblematic significance of the belts refer to the fact that these knives were once reserved for successful warriors and headhunters - Fine old usage patina, minor damages due to age

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