Anigtan (b)
LOCAL NAME:
Anigtan (b)
ENGLISH NAME:
Belt/Headcloth
DESCRIPTION:
Abra, Tinguian, and Itneg: Anigtan
A belt or head cloth with red and yellow vertical bands featuring diamond-like and X motifs repeating alternately. It has braided fringes on both ends.
COMMONLY USED BY/IN:
Abra, Tinguian, Itneg
MATERIAL COMPOSITION:
Cotton threads, Natural dye
ITEM CONSTRUCTION:
Brocade weave, Stitching, Embroidery, Beadwork
DIMENSIONS:
Length
104. 5 cm
Width
9.5 cm
Fringes
16.5 cm
ACQUISITION YEAR:
2021
RESEARCH DATA:
A well-known ceremonial belt among the Tinguian or Itneg men is the anigtan. It features red and yellow vertical bands with diamond-like (mata-mata) and X-motifs (inal-alsong) representing “rice” and “rice mortar” respectively (Respicio, 2000). These are woven using pinilian or the supplementary weft technique which makes the motifs or patterns look floating on the surface of the cloth. The process involves pre-selecting warp threads that will later on form the figures or designs designed by the weaver (Pastor-Roces, 1991). This particular textile is an example of an anigtan woven in pure cotton – at times, it can be woven using silk, or in combination with handspun cotton.
Considered a belt in contrast to the ordinary balikes used in their everyday life (Pastor-Roces, 1991), the anigtan can only be used by the chiefs (panglakayen) and the braves (mamaingel) in their ritual ceremonies (Respicio, 2000). It also doubles as a head cloth which they can tie around their heads.
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