RESEARCH DATA:

Gong handles used by Cordillerans exhibit a variety of materials, including human mandibles, wood, and deer antlers, each adorned with different motifs such as anthropomorphic carvings (Casal et al., 1981) and abstract shapes. Historically, Cordilleran warriors utilized the lower jawbones from head trophies obtained during headhunting raids (Anderson, 2010), while wooden gong handles were more prevalent in Bontoc and Kankana-ey areas.

Anthropomorphic figures are commonly depicted on Cordilleran gong handles. Among the Kankana-ey, the pag-egenan di gangsa gong handles often feature anthropomorphic figures portraying a seated human with raised knees (Ellis, 1981, as cited in Anderson, 2010). Similarly, anthropomorphic motifs are present in Ifugao gong handles, represented as statuettes depicting Ifugao gods (Barton, 1930, as cited in Anderson, 2010).