Punamhan Offering Box - Philippine

This box, made in a dark wood with a strong crusty patina, presents us with a masterfully sculpted lizard, with a relief effect, on the top of the lid of the box (the lizard being a symbol of fertility and abundance). The strong patina which testifies to the devotions of which it was subject. The object comes from the Ifugao region, a province of the Philippines located in the center of the island of Luzon. It is famous for the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. Used by Shamans for ceremonies, especially when planting grains of rice, but also at harvest time. The blood of the sacrificed animals flowed over the lid of the box and mixed with the grains of rice and areca nuts that were at the bottom of the box. Similar objects were presented during the exhibition at the Quai Branly museum on the Philippines entitled: "Philippines, archipelago of exchanges" in 2013.

(For more information on this object, contact us at 0616234231 or by mail: areacorpvel@gmail.com)