20th C. Filipino Igorot Iron & Wood War Spear - Falfeg

Southeast Asia, Philippines, northern Luzon, Igorot culture, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fine example of a war spear known as a falfeg with a lengthy and lightweight wooden handle, a pair of braided rattan fiber rings near the neck, and a forged-iron spearhead with two swooping fins. The pointed lower handle tip could be used as a weapon and was usually capped with a conical iron sheet for extra penetrating capabilities. Size: 2" W x 56.8" H (5.1 cm x 144.3 cm)

For a strikingly similar example of a falfeg, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 36.25.2047.

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in August 2007; ex-private Duluth, Georgia, USA collection

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#151958
Condition Report: Original iron butt cap missing. Slight bending to overall form of wooden handle, minor abrasions to spear head, rattan rings, and handle, and light encrustations to spear head. Great patina throughout.