Ifugao Bulul Rice Guardian Sculpture

A fine old Ifugao Bulul figure, Ifugao people of Northern Luzon,…
click the photo to enlarge
A fine old Ifugao Bulul figure, Ifugao people of Northern Luzon, Philippines; 'Bulul' are guardians of rice granaries, and are very important in Ifugao society, where rice is the staple crop. The Ifugao believe that 'Bululs' are responsible for plentiful harvests of rice, and that the deities can also miraculously increase the amount of rice available. Making 'Bulul' sculptures is a long and complex process, these figures are traditionally made in pairs - one male and one female. Upon completion of the carving, the 'Bulul' figures are installed in a rice granary. A number of ceremonies accompany the placement, including putting blood on the figures. The lumpy coating on this figure is evidence of these rituals. Provenance: Ex. Rudolf Kratochwill collection, Austria. 44 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A Seated Bulul, Mayoyao Style, Ifugao, Philippines, (nineteenth century), carved hardwood, 40.5 cm high. Provenance: William Beyer, Manila. Acquired from above by Dr Peter Elliott, in the 1960s

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

An ancestor figure, Atoni or Tetum people, West Timor, Indonesia; ancestor figure [ai bahat] early 20th century; in Timor, tattoos signal identity and status. Their talismanic qualities protect the living and the soul after death. He is incised with intric

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A large & fine Songe Kifwebe mask, the grooved pattern on the face of the mask is a common characteristic of a Kifwebe mask from the Songye tribe in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central sub-Saharan Africa. The white paint in the grooves symbolizes p

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

West African carved mask. On wooden stand. Height 55 cm (total)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.