RESEARCH DATA:

The hagabi, a prestigious bench among the Ifugao people, serves as a recurring motif in Ifugao woodcarving tradition, appearing in various items such as spoons, ladles, spice servers, and household displays. Miniature versions of the hagabi were often exchanged as tokens or gifts among clan members and were particularly cherished by the affluent class, signifying their social status within Ifugao society (Salvador-Amores, 2018). This miniature version in the collection functions as a spice container, which would have been used during shared meals and ritual events in traditional Ifugao culture.