A Bontoc man's "Suklang" woven hat
Late 19th/early 20th century; Igorot and Kalinga Peoples, Luzon, Philippines
The nito vine and bamboo basketwork pillbox-shaped hat accented with three turns of red-dyed rattan, dog's teeth and boar tusks to each side, three mother-of-pearl buttons on top, and a braided human hair strap
2.75" H x 8" Dia.
Other Notes: 'At the age of six or seven, a Bontoc lad put on his sulpak, the small bowl-shaped hat or flattened pillbox, which by its appendages and decorations recorded his progress through society. When he was old enough to go head-hunting, the girls in the ulogs (dormitories for maidens) gave him dogsi teeth and boarsi tusks to stick on the sides of his hat. He sewed slabs of pearl shell on the sides of covered the top with agate beads and added bunches of feathers on special occasions. Traditionally there were from one to three mother-of-pearl buttons on the crown of the bowl-shaped hat, and tufts of animal hair stuck up at each side over the three or four turns of red-dyed rattan which trimmed the edge. But when a man married, he put on a sober, less fancy hat; only bachelors or men between wives wore gaudy headgear.' - Rith Linker for Penn Museum's "Expedition" Vol. 4 Issue 1, pub. 1961

Overall good condition with dust accumulation commensurate with age and use. Structurally good condition. One of the interior structural fibers with a single break. Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.