This blanket from the collection is a dinapat textile featuring indigo sinan-karayan (river-like) motifs, sinan-ugsa (deer-like) motifs, sinan-tao (human-like) motifs, sinan-kabalyo (horse-like) motifs, and sinan-tokak (frog-like) motifs. The patterns and motifs exhibit reflective symmetry, with both the upper and lower, as well as left and right parts of the blanket mirroring each other—a defining characteristic of dinapat textiles (Salvador-Amores & De Las Peñas, 2019).
Dinapat textiles are a form of pinilian, or woven textiles that undergo a pre-selection process of warp threads before weaving (Pastor-Roces, 1991). This technique causes the patterns and motifs to appear “floating” or embossed on the cloth’s surface. Moreover, the designs are arranged without spaces in between, unlike other pinilian blankets.
According to Respicio (2000), the ugsa (deer) is associated with the alan, or spirit deities. In Itneg traditional belief, the deity Makaboteng or Sanadan is summoned when there is a scarcity of deer (Cole, 1922, p. 299). Textiles depicting deer, carabao calves, horses, and human figures are ceremonial in nature and used by the affluent class (Salvador-Amores & De Las Peñas, 2019).