RESEARCH DATA:

The wooden spoon was a common utilitarian object among ethnic communities in Northern Luzon. Notable examples are found in Ifugao, Bontoc, and other parts of the Cordillera. The Ilongot, also known as the Bugkalot, used wooden spoons with figurative carvings similar to those of their Cordillera counterparts. However, the carving theme, as shown by this wooden spoon in the collection, features a uniquely Ilongot motif. This motif, which represents the red hornbill bird, is also found in their other material objects. The red hornbill is regarded as a spirit bird, guide, and protector during hunting (Carlson, 2014).