DepartmentTextiles-Asia

Beaded girdle / hilot l'minot

NameBelt

Artist Artist not recorded

CultureT'boli

Date1930s-1950s

(not assigned)Southern Mindanao Island, Southern Cotabato province, Philippines, Southeast Asia, ASIA

MediumGlass beads, abacá (banana leaf stems fiber), brass buckle and bells

Dimensions10 1/4 × 35 1/4 in. (26.0351 × 89.5352 cm)

Credit LineGift of Earl & Shari Kessler

Object numberA.2024.11.5

Collections

New Acquisitions: The Gift of Folk Art

Provenancepurchased from dealers, public markets, and artists while living in Asia primarily in the 1990s

DescriptionA beaded belt with metal pentagon shaped buckles. The beads have a repeating pattern of yellow and green diamonds separated by red C shaped design surrounding a white diamond. These inner patterns are surrounded by a dark blue bead background. Around the edges are a zigzap pattern border of green, orange, blue and yellow beads. Beaded fring hangs from the belt with blocks of gree, red, yellow, blue, white, and orange beads. Each fringe ends in a metal ball. Etched on the bucles are curved lines and a floral-like design in the center.

Style worn for special occasions. The tradition of brass casting is called kem tau temwel and uses clay molds.