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Sillot (d)

LOCAL NAME:

Sillot (d)

ENGLISH NAME:

Itneg bead necklace

DESCRIPTION:

A single-strand sillot that reaches the upper torso, composed of carnelian, silver, agate, and glass beads

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Abra, Tinguian, Itneg

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Beads, Silver, Cotton threads

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

Beadwork

DIMENSIONS:

Length
52 cm

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

RESEARCH DATA:

Elegantly and symmetrically configured, this sillot rests on the upper torso when worn. It features a large tubular carnelian centerpiece, flanked by yellow and orange glass beads, as well as honey-colored agates known as asi (Jimenez & Sabado, 2017). Notably, it also incorporates silver beads of varying designs, crafted through the intricate technique of filigree work. These silver beads, called samfufok, are also known as tambor or tambourine jewelry. Tambor beads were made from a variety of metals, including silver, brass, and gold.
Crafted from melted or forged coins, these beads serve as historical evidence of the trade networks that once linked Abra and Ilocos, introducing influences from Spanish colonialism and Catholicism. The designs include elaborate details reminiscent of Christian motifs and relics, as well as floral patterns believed to have originated from Southeast Asia (Villegas, 1999).

REFERENCES:

Jimenez, J., Sabado, D. (2017). Itneg beads value and usage in the contemporary period among the Masadiit ethnolinguistic group in Abra. Unpublished Thesis. University of the Philippines Baguio.


Villegas, R. N. (1999). Art of a Golden Age. National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

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