[Suk’-lâng (“headhunter hat”)]
Item
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Title
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[Suk’-lâng (“headhunter hat”)]
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Creator
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Botnoc Igorot people (northern Luzon)
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Date
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“Before 1916”
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Description
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Suk’-lâng woven basket-work hat, crafted with rattan, red bamboo, brass wire, and plant fiber. Decorated with animal tooth, hair, and army pin.
Made by the Bontoc Igorot people.
Previously in the Kirby Hall of Civil Rights Museum collection.
This hat was worn by most pueblos in the Bontoc culture area. Starting at age six or seven, the Bontoc Igorot men begin to wear the suk’-lâng. The suk’-lâng is worn by long-haired men on the back of the head and held in place by the string that sits across the forehead, covered by hair. When it rains, the hat continues to be worn, though covered by another rain-resistant hat.
Men would use the hat as storage, putting their pipes, tobacco, and matches inside to carry with them. Some hats are decorated with various materials such as animal teeth, pear shells, human hair, army buttons, and brass wire, but a typical hat is unadorned.
The suk-lâng indicated a man’s status in society. It can convey marital status, ally or enemy, or if the wearer is a successful hunter of men.
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Rights
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In copyright
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Source
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Special Collections and College Archives, Lafayette College, Easton, PA.
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Bibliographic Citation
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Unknown artist, Suk’-lâng, n.d., plant fiber, rattan, red bamboo, brass wire, animal tooth, hair, army pin. Special Collections and College Archives, Lafayette College, Easton, PA.
