Pre-Colonial Philippine art
Early evidences of ancient tools and other artifacts
abound in the different islands of the Philippines. Many objects
created for daily use and can be found in places like Batangas,
Cagayan, Central Luzon, Davao and Palawan. Two of the objects
that were discovered and describe to be the crudest form of stone
tools ( flake tools). The following are descriptions of other artifacts
that were discovered.
Receptacles
- These were containers fashioned by early Filipinos to enclose and protect the bodies of their
dead relatives.
- Protection and concentration of the bodies supported what scientists thought about early
Filipinos believing in life after death and immortality of soul.
- Containers served as a funerary after the dead.
- Coffins made out of tree barks and fibers woven into mats also function as receptacles of
food and other belonging.
- Receptacles can also be made of leaves, wood, and bamboo. Most popular material
bamboo ( abundance & natural characteristic)
Textile Weaving
- Flat stone too ls believed to have been used to
found and flatten tree into primitive types of textile
have been excavated.
Jewelry
- Shells were used for accessories ( bracelet and
pendants )
- Example of ancient jewelry ( a piece of cone shell )
- It was discovered in Duyong Cavite, Palawan
- Shells, animal bones and small stones were the
earliest adornments.
- Accessories made of jade ( nephrite ) were found in Palawan and Calagatan.
- Gold beads were found in Gun Cave ( 300 – 100 B.C.E )
Pottery
- Clay pots were discovered as early as 710 B.C.E
in Masbate.
- The most convenient way to classify them is
according to shape, method and decoration
and type of design on the surface.
- Shape – is the description of the vessel’s body,
the form of its mouth, the thickness of its lips
or the presence of ears, spouts and legs
attached to its body.
Method of decoration is the manner by which design are applied on the bodies surface.
2 types of decorative designs
a. Impressed designs
- involve pressing on the vessel certain objects like a rope, string, or small
piece of mat while. The surface clay is still wet. This will leave an impression
on the surface of the clay as it dries.
b. Incised designs
- make use of sharp objects to draw pattern on the earthen ware’s still wet
body.
Designs are either abstract or representational
1. Abstract designs
- consists of dots, straight lines and curved lines, which are inspired by nature.
Ex: seeds, stars, waves, clouds, flowers and feather
2. Representational designs
- are usually of objects in nature
Ex: tress, animals and drawings of human figures.
Sculpture
- The manunggul Burial Jar ( dated 890 – 710 B.C.E )
is a symbol of Philippine Pre – historic artifacts.
- Manunggul Jar was found in Palawan and is name
after the cave where it was found.
- The jar is 66.5 cm I height and 51 cm in diameter.
- It’s somewhat oral body crowned by a unique cover. It is surmounted by a group of
sculpture which is a representation of the soul of the dead person being transported by the
figure rowing the boat into afterlife.
- The tagalogs called their religions images likha, tao – tao, and larawan which represents the
anitos is the spirits.
Architecture
- The houses during 16th century were single room constructions with walls of bamboo and
roof of palm leaves. The ground floor was usually for storage. Cooking and washing that for
done in the part of the house is called batalan.
The style and structure of native dwellings are of three different types that is built in rural places around
the country. These are bahay-kubo or nipa hut, Ifugao house, and Maranao house.
Bahay-kubo
- is built from bamboo and nipa which are the
most common construction naterial in rural areas.
- dry seasons make the bahay kubo very
functional in terms of comfort and affordability of
materials.
Ifugao house
- are so structured because of the cold climate
of the Mt. Province.
- Ifugaos construct their houses in a manner
that would assure protection from the low temperature
and the rains common in Mt. Province.
Maranao house
- a traditional house with a boat-like
appearance.
- the description is primarily because of the
panolong, the prow-like end of the beams that support
the flowing of the house.
- The beams interlock with the columns of the
house, from under the walk. Their ends are correctly and
ornately carved and painted. The rectangular shape of the house and its wide sloping roof
suggests the boat like appearance of the structure.
Muslim Art
a. Sarimanok
- is a representation of an open-winged
legendary bird which stands on a fish with another fish
hanging its beak.
- it is usually placed on top of bamboo poles at
the center if Maranao villages among decorative flags during
festive ocassions.
b. Naga
- is a stylized dragon or serpent carved in grave
markers or elaborately in plows.
- The most important element in Muslim Art is color
Greens, Yellows, Reds, Violets, and blues, all in highly intensity
enrich and enhance any okir. Okir is a general term for the
colorful flowing designs which decorate any surface of the Muslim
regions. Okir, are curvilinear motifs made by the Maranao and
Tausug tribes of Mindanao.
- The main motifs are the sarimanok, the naga, and the
pako sabong ( fern) particularly used to decorate the houses of
sultans, Okir - a - datu are ornamental designs for men and okir -
a - bay for women.
Ukkil
- is a design technique usually seen in the Sulu
Peninsula.
- it is a decorative design that is used in carving,
basketry, pottery, and weaving.
- it’s pattern is similar to the WESTERN STYLE ARABESQUE and ART NOVEANS.
The elegance of Maranao brass work seen in the kabul and gadur jar-like containers with
cover that resemble the domes of their mosques.
Stylized and geometric motifs are also appeared on
tools, weapons, and musical instruments.
Weaponry include the KAMPILAN, a long sword, its
handle resembling the open mouth of a naga.
The KRIS, a wavy flame - like blade representing the
body of a serpent; and the barong, a leaf- like blade
having the same geometric designs on its hilt.
Art of the Mt. Province
Wood is the medium of choice in the art of the Mountain Province. It is used in making
shields, spoons, ladles, bowls, and also human and animal figures. WOODCARVING is
considered an important skill in all tribes.
