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Buhboh

LOCAL NAME:

Buhboh

ENGLISH NAME:

Small mortar and pestle

DESCRIPTION:

Ifugao: Buhboh/Bohboh/Bok-bokan
An assemblage of four small mortars and pestles.

COMMONLY USED BY/IN:

Ifugao

MATERIAL COMPOSITION:

Wood, Metal

ITEM CONSTRUCTION:

Woodcarving, Metalwork

DIMENSIONS:

See image descriptions

ACQUISITION YEAR:

2021

DISPLAY STATUS:

BURC

RESEARCH DATA:

Known as buhboh/bohboh/bok-bokan in Ifugao, these small mortars and pestles vary in shape. Three of them have anthropomorphic carvings on either or both the mortars and/or pestles. Their metal pestles make it easier to crush the spices. These items were used to crush limes (Yuchengco Museum, 2012) and crack betel nuts for the elders who already have chewing difficulties due to the loss of teeth. These mortars and pestles are comparable to their huge counterparts commonly known as luhung (mortar) and alu/lalu (pestle). Luhung and alu set is one of the common possessions among Ifugao and are used to pound the harvested rice (Fanged, 2018).

REFERENCES:

Fanged, N. (2018). Catalogue of objects in the feasts of merit exhibition. In D. Tolentino (Ed.), feasts of merit: wealth, status, and feasting. Museo Kordilyera.

Yuchengco Museum. (2012). Eloquent simplicity: In wood and fiber. Yuchengco Museum.

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