Bakwat/Kapat
LOCAL NAME:
Bakwat/Kapat
ENGLISH NAME:
Ga’dang women's belt
DESCRIPTION:
Ga'dang, Mountain Province: Bakwat/Kapat
A red narrow belt with tassel beads and brass rings on both ends.
COMMONLY USED BY/IN:
Ga’dang, Mountain Province
MATERIAL COMPOSITION:
Thread, Dye, Beads, Brass
ITEM CONSTRUCTION:
Twill weave, Beadwork, Metalworking
DIMENSIONS:
Length
223 cm
Width
8.5 cm
Beaded ends
Length
10 cm
Brass ring with floral relief A
Thickness
2.4 cm
Brass ring with floral relief B
Thickness
2.4 cm
Brass ring with engravings A
Thickness
1.3 cm
Brass ring with engravings B:
Thickness
1.3 cm
Thin brass rings A: 15 pcs
Thin brass rings B: 15 pcs
ACQUISITION YEAR:
2021
RESEARCH DATA:
This belt is called the bakwat or kapat, used to secure the aken (skirt) worn by Ga’dang women by placing it over the skirt and tying it after wrapping it around the waist. The bottom ends of the belt, which are embellished with tassel beads of multiple colors and sizes, appear like “hanging flowerettes” supported by the weight brought about by the thickest ring-like brass with floral relief designs attached to it (San Agustin, 2007). It leans slightly to the rightmost part of the skirt, and allows additional parts of women’s thighs to be covered (San Agustin, 2007). White triangular beadworks called the kutilap are stitched on the side hems of the belt, providing a stark contrast to its red cotton body (San Agustin, 2007). Meanwhile, narrow bands of black and white diamond-like patterns which are locally called the inammata a ibebato or inammata (eye-like) design among the Ga’dang people, are repeated along the whole length of the cloth.
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