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“Bulul” Figure

Unknown19th century

Museo Nacional de Antropología, Madrid

Museo Nacional de Antropología, Madrid
Madrid, Spain

Figure representing a "Bulul," god of rice granaries. The “bulul” is kept in these granaries to increase the rice yield, and a ceremony is celebrated at every harvest with offerings and animal sacrifices. The “bulul” figures are bathed in their blood to absorb their enriching power.
It can take up to six weeks to craft them, as a specific ceremony is held at each stage of their creation. They may be standing or seated, and they are usually carved by a man and a woman in order to underscore their procreative power. Their design varies significantly—they are never a direct copy of real life, but rather an abstract take on the human form.

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  • Title: “Bulul” Figure
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: 19th century
  • Physical Dimensions: w19 x h55.5 x d5 cm
  • Provenance: Brought over for an exhibition on the Philippines, Mariana Islands, and Caroline Islands in Madrid in 1887.
  • Type: Sculpture / Ritual Object
  • External Link: CERES
  • Photographer: Miguel Ángel Otero, 2010
  • Materials: Wood
  • Cultural Context: Ifugao (Luzon, the Philippines)
Museo Nacional de Antropología, Madrid

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