Curator's Tour | Gold of Ancestors: Precolonial Treasures in the Philippines
Summary
TLDRThe 'Gold of Ancestors' exhibition at Ayala Museum showcases over 1,000 gold artifacts from the 10th to 13th centuries, reflecting the rich pre-colonial cultures of the Philippines. Curated by Florina Capistrano Baker, the collection includes gold ornaments with Southeast Asian similarities, indicating shared origins. It also features unique pieces like the massive Surigao treasure chain and anthropomorphic figures with Hindu-Buddhist influences. The exhibition highlights the significance of gold in ancient Philippine society, from birth to death rituals, and invites visitors to explore and take pride in this forgotten heritage.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The exhibition at Ayala Museum showcases over 1,000 gold artifacts from the 10th to 13th centuries, highlighting the rich pre-colonial heritage of the Philippines.
- 🎨 The collection, assembled by Leandro Locsin and Cecilia Locsin, is considered by Dr. John N. Miksic as potentially the country's greatest tangible heritage, comparable to global gold collections.
- 🌐 The artifacts reflect cultural sophistication and regional connections, with similarities to Southeast Asian cultures, indicating shared prehistoric origins and inter-island engagements.
- 🔍 The 'ling lingo' and 'mamouli' omega-shaped ornaments are examples of widespread themes, with early versions traced back to 2500 BCE in Batanes, made from imported jade.
- 🏺 Gold objects like modesty covers and finger rings feature Hindu god motifs, suggesting cultural and possibly religious ties with Southeast Asia.
- 👑 The exhibition includes gold regalia that symbolized authority and prestige among pre-colonial Philippine leaders, such as the 'datu', who wore these to affirm their status.
- 🌟 The Surigao treasure, a massive gold chain weighing nearly 4 kilograms, is a standout piece, unique for its design and size, and was accidentally discovered in 1981.
- 📜 The Boxer Codex provides insights into how these gold ornaments were worn, showing pre-colonial inhabitants adorned in silk and gold, with a 300-year gap bridging the exhibition's artifacts and early contact accounts.
- 💍 Detailed descriptions by scholars like Ignacio Alcina and Antonio Pigafetta document the use of traditional jewelry, with specific cultural preferences and regional variations in ornamentation.
- 🔮 Anthropomorphic gold figures and vessels in the exhibition reveal the influence of Hindu-Buddhist beliefs, with intricate designs and motifs that echo ancient Southeast Asian and Indian art.
Q & A
Who is Florina Capistrano Baker?
-Florina Capistrano Baker is the curator of the 'Gold of Ancestors' exhibition at the Ayala Museum.
What is the significance of the gold artifacts featured in the exhibition?
-The gold artifacts, dated from the 10th to 13th centuries, are considered the country's greatest tangible heritage and represent the sophisticated cultures that flourished in the Philippines before Spanish colonization.
Who originally collected the gold artifacts on display?
-The late National Artist for Architecture, Leandro Locsin, and his archaeologist wife Cecilia Locsin originally collected the gold artifacts.
What is the connection between the gold artifacts and Southeast Asian cultures?
-The artifacts show similarities with those from other Southeast Asian cultures, affirming regional affinities and inter-island engagements that existed before sustained contact with the Western world.
What are some examples of omega-shaped ornaments found in the exhibition?
-Examples of omega-shaped ornaments include the 'mamouli' known in parts of Indonesia and 'Ling lingo' in the northern Philippines.
How were the early versions of the linglingo produced?
-Early versions of the linglingo were produced in Batanes as early as 2500 BCE, using imported jade from Taiwan.
What do the gold chains and waist sashes signify?
-Gold chains and waist sashes, along with other gold regalia, were used by early Philippine society leaders to affirm their authority and prestige.
What is the significance of the Surigao treasure mentioned in the script?
-The Surigao treasure is a massive gold chain weighing almost 4 kilograms, which is the only known example of its kind and is more than the entire gold find from the 7th Century site of Okeo in present-day Vietnam.
How does the Boxer Codex relate to the exhibition?
-The Boxer Codex, dated to the late 16th century, provides watercolor images that show how pre-colonial inhabitants wore their gold ornaments, offering insights into the use of the artifacts on display.
What is the connection between the gold artifacts and Hindu-Buddhist culture?
-The gold artifacts, including anthropomorphic figures and vessels, bear witness to the Hindu-Buddhist substratum of the pre-colonial past in the Philippines, with some forms recovered before the arrival of Islam and Christianity.
What role did gold play in the lives of pre-colonial Filipinos according to the exhibition?
-Gold played an important role in the lives of pre-colonial Filipinos, from birth to death, and was used in rituals and as a symbol of power and wealth, ensuring a cordial welcome to the afterlife.
Outlines
🏺 Gold of Ancestors: Philippine Cultural Heritage
The 'Gold of Ancestors' exhibition at the Ayala Museum, curated by Florina Capistrano Baker, showcases over 1,000 gold artifacts dating from the 10th to 13th centuries. These were originally collected by Leandro Locsin and Cecilia Locsin, with Dr. John Miksic describing the collection as a significant heritage comparable to global gold collections. The exhibit highlights the advanced cultures of the pre-Spanish colonization Philippines, with items like omega-shaped ornaments (Ling lingo) indicating shared Southeast Asian origins. The collection also includes gold chains, waist sashes, and regalia that were symbols of authority and prestige among early Philippine leaders, such as the dato. A notable piece is a massive gold chain from the Surigao treasure, weighing nearly 4 kilograms, which is unique and heavier than the entire gold find from the 7th-century site of Ô娄 in Vietnam. The exhibit also references the Boxer Codex, providing insights into how these ornaments were worn, indicating a rich tradition of gold craftsmanship and cultural significance.
📜 Cultural Continuity and Adornments: From Past to Early Contact
Despite a 300-year gap between the gold works and 16th-century accounts like the Boxer Codex, the descriptions by Antonio Pigafetta and Jesuit missionary Father Ignacio Alcina confirm the continued use of gold jewelry into the early contact period. The exhibition details the traditional jewelry, with both men and women wearing ornaments in their ears, and larger pieces being exclusive to men. It also points out regional preferences, such as the cayunkayon earrings unique to the Visayas. The exhibit features anthropomorphic figures that reflect the Hindu-Buddhist influences in the pre-colonial past, with gold works portraying forms that were prevalent before the arrival of Islam and Christianity. Notable pieces include a gold vessel shaped like a kinari, a sheath in the form of a male figure, and a two-wheeled chariot icon related to the Hindu sun god Surya. The exhibit also discusses the archaeological evidence linking the ancient Kalinga Empire to pre-colonial Philippine cultures, suggesting a need for further research into these ancient connections.
👳♂️ Gold in Afterlife Beliefs and Cultural Pride
The final paragraph delves into the belief systems of ancient Filipinos, where gold was used to protect the body's spiritual openings and ensure a favorable afterlife. It describes the use of gold face masks and other accoutrements to signify elite status and power. The narrative emphasizes the enduring role of gold in the lives of ancestors, from birth to death, and its significance in the cultural identity of the Filipino people. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to visit the Ayala Museum to experience these pre-colonial treasures firsthand, encouraging a sense of pride in the recovery and remembrance of these ancient splendors. The exhibit serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, with the hope of inspiring further exploration and appreciation of its forgotten pre-colonial past.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Gold of Ancestors
💡Austronesian Migrations
💡Linglingo
💡Hindu-Buddhist Substratum
💡Surigao Treasure
💡Datu
💡Boxer Codex
💡Kalininga Empire
💡TaoTao or Larawan
💡Gold as an Eternal Metal
Highlights
The exhibition features over 1,000 gold artifacts dated from the 10th to 13th centuries.
The collection is described as the country's greatest tangible heritage by Dr. John Nixie.
The artifacts celebrate the sophisticated cultures that flourished in the Philippines before Spanish colonization.
The omega-shaped ornaments, known as Ling lingo, show similarities with Southeast Asian cultures.
Early versions of the Linglingo were produced in Batanes using imported jade from Taiwan.
Gold chains and waist sashes are adorned with motifs associated with Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva.
Leaders of early Philippine societies ruled through merit and consensus, wearing gold regalia to affirm authority.
The most spectacular gold accoutrement is a torso ornament with a missing red cabochon finial.
The Surigao treasure, a massive gold chain weighing almost 4 kilograms, is the only known example of its kind.
The Boxer Codex provides insights into how these ornaments were worn by pre-colonial inhabitants.
Gold jewelry was still in use during the early contact period, as described by Antonio Pigafetta in 1521.
Jesuit missionary Father Ignacio Alcina detailed traditional jewelry used in the late 17th century.
Cultural preferences in different regions are evident through specific types of earrings like the cayunkayon.
Anthropomorphic figures in gold bear witness to the Hindu-Buddhist substratum of the pre-colonial past.
Gold works portraying Hindu-Buddhist forms were recovered before the arrival of Islam and Christianity.
The exhibition includes a gold sheath in the form of a male figure, possibly used for protection.
Gold covers were used to protect the body's fontanels from malignant spirits in afterlife beliefs.
Gold played an important role in the lives of ancestors, from birth to death, symbolizing power and wealth.
The exhibition invites visitors to explore and take pride in the Philippines' forgotten pre-colonial past.
Transcripts
[Music]
welcome to the gold of ancestors
exhibition on the fourth floor of Ayala
Museum I am Florina Capistrano Baker the
curator of the exhibition
exhibit features over 1 000 gold options
dated Circa 10th to 13th centuries
originally collected by the late
National artists for architecture
Leandro locsin and this archaeologist
wife Cecilia loxia
the archaeologist and art historian Dr
John mixick describes this collection as
perhaps the country's greatest tangible
Heritage that can stand comparison with
other gold collections in the world
the exhibition celebrates the
sophisticated cultures that flourished
in the Philippines before Spanish
colonization in the 16th century some
forms recall those from other Southeast
Asian cultures affirming Regional
affinities and inter-island engagements
that flourished before sustained contact
with the Western world
as you enter the calories turn right to
the section called austronesian
migrations in this section we have
several examples of omega-shaped
ornaments or pananulars popularly called
Ling lingo by archaeologists
similarities in language and visual
culture among austronesian-speaking
peoples in Southeast Asia support the
notion of shared origins in prehistory
among the most widespread themes is the
omega-shaped ornament known as mamouli
in parts of Indonesia and Ling lingo in
the northern Philippines
archaeological Research indicates that
early versions of the lingling or were
produced in batanes as early as 2500
using imported Jade from Taiwan
the examples in the exhibition are of
hammered gold and were recovered from
various parts of the archipelago
[Laughter]
connections to neighboring Southeast
Asian cultures are evident as well in
distinctive objects such as modesty
covers and finger rings adorned with
motifs associated with this Hindu gods
Vishnu such as the Conch Shell and Shiva
such as the Bulls horns
as we proceed to the opposite side we
see gold chains and waist sashes along
with images of contemporaneous gold
works from other parts of the world
leaders of early Philippine societies
ruled through Merit and consensus earned
through bravery in battle wisdom and
wealth these Leaders with honorary title
of datu or fine garments and dazzling
gold regalia to affirm Authority and
prestige
in this Gallery are several ornaments
and ritual vessels used by the
pre-colonial datu
the most spectacular of these gold
accoutrements is this torso ornament it
is a torso ornament meant to go across
one shoulder across the body and
originally it had a
red cabochon finial that is now missing
one side has a slit perhaps to
accommodate a dagger or a weapon this
massive gold chain is arguably the most
spectacular object from the Treasure
Trove known as the Surigao treasure
accidentally recovered in 1981. it
weighs almost 4 kilograms and consists
of an inner loop and loop chain with an
outer skin of segmented tubular beads on
four sides thus forming a squared
profile it is the only known example of
its kind and weighs more than the entire
gold find of over 1 000 gold objects
from the 7th Century site of okeo in
present-day Vietnam
[Music]
one of the most important manuscripts
that give us an idea of how these
ornaments were worn is the manuscript
called the boxer codex which Scholars
date to
1590 or more recent scholarship suggests
15.95 and in this manuscript you have
images
watercolor images that we have enlarged
in the walls of this Alcove to show you
how the pre-colonial inhabitants that
were encountered by the Spaniards at the
time of early contact wore their
garments of
illustrious Sumptuous silk and ornaments
of gold
there is a 300 year gap between the
approximate date of the gold Works in
this exhibition and the 16th century
accounts such as the boxer codex but
Antonio pigafetta's descriptions of gold
jewelry encountered upon Magellan's
arrival in 1521 make it clear that such
adornments were still in use during the
early contact period
the Jesuit missionary father Ignacio
Alcina provides detailed descriptions of
traditional jewelry still eaten used in
the late 17th century both men and women
had pierced ears to accommodate a
variety of ornaments men had one or two
holes per lobe while women had three or
four the larger earrings were usually
worn on the lowest hole such as this
pamarang decorated with extremely fine
granulation which you can appreciate
better using the magnifying glass built
into the exhibition drawers
larger ornaments were only worn by men
in contrast only women wore jewelry with
floral motifs a specific type of earring
embellished with floral shaped Spangles
called cayunkayon occurs only in the
visayas suggesting specific cultural
preferences in different regions
the swaying motion of these glistening
Spangles was part of their attraction
thank you
in this fabulous Alcove just off the
journey to the afterlife are several
anthropomorphic figures that bear
witness to our Hindu Buddhist substratum
our pre-colonial past that has been
blurred Through Time
gold Works portraying Hindu Buddhist
forms recovered across the archipelago
before the arrival of Islam and
Christianity in the 14th to 16th
centuries include this Exquisite gold
vessel in the shape of a qinari half
woman and half bird the kinari
personifies the feminine ideal of beauty
Grace and accomplishment the textured
feather of patterns on her wings and
tail contrast with the smoothness of her
skin
[Music]
local plaques portray a female image
with uprised hands wearing an elaborate
headdress with a tree of life Motif
frame by flame-like appendages and
multiple layers of neck ornaments there
are intriguing similarities to Tamil
representations of the Hindu goddess
Kali who is usually represented with a
flame-like halo around the head though
further research is needed to illuminate
this possible connection
this extraordinary gold sheath in the
form of a male figure probably covered a
solid core to which it was secured
through perforations along the slit in
the back his arms are bent at the elbows
and gesture upward to his chest 16th
century accounts describe pre-christian
figures called TaoTao or larawan that
were kept in houses to protect the
residents Within
this intriguing set of gold sheets
depicts a two-wheeled chariot with a
large human face on top and a smaller
full figure near the base the gold icon
appears to be related to the Hindu sun
god Surya who is often portrayed riding
a chariot along with his charioteer
there's a similar icon in the collection
of the Banco Central Pilipinas miniature
versions of monumental architecture such
as stupas and temples are not uncommon
among Hindu Buddhist cultures there are
possible connections to the spectacular
chariot-shaped Temple to the sun god
Surya at konark a prominent landmark of
the ancient Kalinga Empire on the east
coast of India Kalinga played such a
prominent role in the maritime trade
with southeast Asia that the Bay of
Bengal was once called the Kalinga sea
Scholars have traced archaeological
evidence of kalinga's presence in
Malaysia Sumatra Java and Bali ancient
connections to pre-colonial Philippine
cultures merits further study
in 1981 the loxian foundation sponsored
an archaeological project in agusan Del
Norte in Mindanao led by supervising
archaeologist Dr Warren Peterson six
burials were recovered under controlled
conditions in masago butuan Chinese
export Ceramics found in association
with the gold objects and radiocarbon
dating of charcoal samples from two
graves indicate approximate dates
between the 10th to 13th century hence
the tentative dating of the gold objects
in this exhibition
after death spiritual forces were
believed to travel in and out of the
body
the Fontanel or openings such as the
eyes nose and mouth which were protected
by gold covers to prevent malignant
Spirits from taking over the body large
face masks of hammered gold were
embellished with diadems marking one's
Elite status these accoutrements of
power and wealth ensured a cordial
welcome to the afterlife thus gold the
Eternal metal played an important role
in the lives of our ancestors beginning
at Birth and ending upon death
I hope you enjoyed this short
introduction to the exhibition entitled
gold of ancestors pre-colonial Treasures
in the Philippines there is more to see
and learn in person and we hope that you
and your family and your friends will
visit Ayala Museum often we as a people
have much to be proud of as we recover
rare fragments of ancient splendors and
reinsert in our Collective memory these
extraordinary Treasures from our have
forgotten pre-colonial past
thank you
[Music]
foreign
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