Kuwako
LOCAL NAME:
Kuwako
ENGLISH NAME:
Wooden pipes
DESCRIPTION:
An assemblage of eight wooden pipes, each displaying unique carved designs and compositions. They are known as kuwako by the Ifugao and Kankana-ey ethnic groups, while the Ibaloy refer to them as suwako.
COMMONLY USED BY/IN:
Cordillera Administrative Region
MATERIAL COMPOSITION:
Wood, Rattan implements
ITEM CONSTRUCTION:
Woodcarving, Engraving
DIMENSIONS:
See image descriptions
ACQUISITION YEAR:
2021
RESEARCH DATA:
Wooden pipes or kuwako (Ifugao), also suako (Ibaloy), were once widely used in the Cordillera. According to Mittersakschmoller (2009), men, women, and even children in the Cordillera consumed tobacco on various occasions either as cigarettes, cigars, or rolled tobacco (ball-shaped). Wooden pipes in the Cordillera are one of the most common forms of smoking pipes, aside from clay and bamboo pipes. Wooden pipes vary in terms of their sizes and designs. Most are elaborately decorated and have carvings on the bowl. In this collection, most pipes have abstracted and pottery-like shapes, traditional tattoo-inspired engraving, anthropomorphic carvings, and even the incorporation of rattan wickerwork. Pipes like these are locally made and, as noted in Casal et al. (1981), were sometimes made by their owners.
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