Binibini

Sacred and secular iconography converge in an anthropomorphic plaque depicting a lady or binibini. The plaque portrays an elite female person with hands upraised in orant position. She wears an elaborate headdress depicting the tree of life; multiple necklaces with lozenge patterns and tutubi beads adorn her neck; quatrefoil blossoms and double scrolls form an elaborate halo around her. Her ears are distended, indicating her high rank. It is unclear whether this image represent deceased elite females or deities, or both.

Funerary Mask

As with other traditional cultures, spiritual forces were believed to travel in and out of the body through the fontanel or facial orifices such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. Accordingly, these openings were covered by precious materials to prevent malignant spirits from taking over the body. Depending on the family’s rank and economic means, sheets of gold covered the deceased individual’s eyes, nose, and mouth, or the entire face.

Pair of Garuda Ornaments

The mount of the Vishnu in Hindu mythology, the composite bird-like creature known as the garuda occurs in a number of gold ornaments found in the Philippines. These ornate adornments of hammered gold with protruding beaks and dangling trimmings recall related Indonesian examples. The use of the garuda imagery attests to regional affinities in pre-colonial Philippines. The large sizes of the paired ornaments suggest their use as ear or arm ornaments.

Kinnari

This exquisite golden vessel is rendered in the shape of the winged kinnari—half woman and half bird.

In Hindu mythology, the kinnari personifies the feminine ideal of beauty, grace, and accomplishments. She is renowned for her enchanting voice, graceful dance, and gifted poetry.

The kinnari’s haunting allure is captured in the sensitive rendering of this image. Her delicate features suggest ethereal beauty, a bejeweled chignon at the nape of her neck enhances her elegance. The textured patterns of chased and engraved feathers on her wings and tail provide a pleasing counterpoint to the softly glowing smoothness of her skin.