Akosan (c)
LOCAL NAME:
Akosan (c)
ENGLISH NAME:
Shell belt
DESCRIPTION:
Bontoc, Mountain Province: Akosan
A belt embellished with a large wooden ring, cone shells, and two brass coils, held together by a woven textile
COMMONLY USED BY/IN:
Bontoc, Mountain Province
MATERIAL COMPOSITION:
Cone shells, Handwoven textile, Brass
ITEM CONSTRUCTION:
90
DIMENSIONS:
Length
150 cm
Fringes
14 cm
Metal Coil A
11 cm
Metal Coil B
6 cm"
ACQUISITION YEAR:
2021
RESEARCH DATA:
This belt from the collection is locally known as the akosan and is made of handwoven textile adorned with a large wooden ring, cone shells (Conus litteratus), and brass coils. It is worn as a belt by affluent Bontoc women. According to Maramba (1998), it forms as a safety deposit box for securing pieces of akon, or heirlooms such as beads, earrings and pieces of gold. It is worn over the belt that holds the skirt. The shells and rings that adorn the akosan are in themselves prestige items (Museo Kordilyera, 2021). The Itneg also have their own version of akosan which is used in rituals.
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