BAGOBO FINE ART COLLECTION 



Bti Ijiurii II itt.s-itn linirdict 



T\\\\ TciKh'iicy of ;i s;i\';i^f tril)c to cxjjrcss its loxc for licaiity in the 

 form of (Iccoi'atixc art is sliow n in >oiiic detail in a collection from 

 the Haj,'ol)o tribe of .southern Mindanao, recently installed in the 

 Philippine Hall. Whether we examine l)asketry or woorl-ear\ in^, textiles 

 or (Mnhroidery or heaihvork. we find a minute attention to form, a correct 

 .sense for color contrasts, a fine discrimination in decorati\'e finish. 



_ The Hatroho trihe, mimherint: a few thou- 



s.md. foi-m> one of the f;roii{)s of jja^aii Malays 

 li\"inii- clustered in villtifie.s over the mountains 

 and foothills that ranije hack from the west 

 coast of the s,Mdf of I)a\ao. They are a people 

 of sin<;iilar beauty, with clear g(>lden-l)rown 

 skin, earnest wide-open eyes, and mobile faces 

 ch;int;ini,r from deep seriousness in repose to 

 sparklinii \ivacity in conversation. 



In dress both women and men lune un- 

 usually good taste and as fashions never vary 

 from generation to generation, there comes no 

 mandatory decree to change a good style. A 

 more picturesque sight is rare to find than a 

 party of Hagobo coming down a mountain trail 

 in single fil<\ walking with swift free step, the 

 men in shoi-t trousers an<l o])en jackets, long 

 black hair streaming o\er their shoulders, and 

 richly beaded carrying-bags on tln-ir backs; 

 tlu' women in scant-bodied, scarlet-sleeved 

 rami.sd.s and straight skirts woven in lustrous 

 pictured patterns, and wearing their hair in 

 glossy coils secured by headed combs. Bright- 

 coloicd kerchiefs adorn the heads of women 

 and men; sparkling in tlieir ears are ivory 

 and inlaid ])higs: around their necks hang 

 pendants of finely carved seeds and l)raided 

 beadwork and striuig petals. Tassels of sweet- 

 scented roots and toothbrushes of boars' 



A Bafiobo vuiilh I'l-oni tlu- ■ • ■ ■ ■ .1 1 1 i 



mountains of .southorn Min- bristles dangle from jacket and neckband, 

 (lanao in typic-al beaded dress. .^^.j,j],. in.rderinu bag. basket and scabbard, and 



The Bagobo has a iiassionate • , ,• 1 n 1 1 1 



love for decoration tinkhiigtroni hollow leglct or armlet are iuin- 



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