Sillot/Bongor
LOCAL NAME:
Sillot/Bongor
ENGLISH NAME:
Bead necklace
DESCRIPTION:
A single-strand, choker-style bead necklace featuring Prussian blue beads, yellow mosaic beads, and brass beads
COMMONLY USED BY/IN:
Abra, Tinguian, Itneg, Kalinga
MATERIAL COMPOSITION:
Brass, Cotton threads, Beads
ITEM CONSTRUCTION:
Beadwork
DIMENSIONS:
Length
15 cm
ACQUISITION YEAR:
2021
RESEARCH DATA:
A choker-style bead necklace featuring multiple 19th-century yellow mosaic millefiori glass beads, complemented by Prussian blue beads and brass beads. The mosaic (campig) and Prussian blue beads (bitug) are considered heirlooms of the Kalinga (Abellera, 1981), while the brass beads (samfufok) are traditionally associated with the Itneg or Tinguian. By incorporating heirloom beads from both the Kalinga and Tinguian communities, this restrung piece by Patis Tesoro beautifully integrates their artistic heritage.
Mosaic glass beads are distinguished by their vibrant, candy-like appearance. They are crafted by fusing multicolored glass canes or rods and wrapping them onto another glass sheet, creating intricate mosaic patterns. This glassmaking technique is believed to have originated in Western Asia and was later perfected and reintroduced by Venetian glassmakers (Dubin, 2009).
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