The Figure of a Male Rice Deity (Bulul) In Ifugao

 

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Artwork Details

Title: Figure of a Male Rice Deity (Bulul)

Date: 19th century or earlier

Geography: Philippines, Hapao region

Culture: Ifugao people

Medium: Wood

Dimensions: H. 24 1/2 × W. 6 5/8 × D. 5 1/2 in. (62.2 × 16.8 × 14 cm)

Classification: Wood-Sculpture

Credit Line: Gift of George R. Ellis, in memory of Nancy L. Ellis, 2013

Accession Number: 2013.1105

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This standing male figure addressing a rice divinity (bulul) from the Ifugao nation of northern Luzon Island in the Philippines is a remarkable and exceptionally significant articulation of the principal custom of human model in the northern Philippines. Etched with remarkable class and awareness for its sort, it is among the best articulations of its sort. While bulul figures are genuinely normal, the extraordinary greater part are of later date and are more generally cut than this work.

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The figure remains on a squarish hourglass-formed base addressing an adapted rice mortar. The extended head has a smooth domed skull with a huge round opening in the middle, which probably initially served for the inclusion of a tuft of hair. The facial highlights are delivered in help with a shallow temple line that slips to a particular three-sided point simply over the nose. The eyes are displayed as capsule molded structures with roundabout openings exhausted in the middle to show the students. The lips are marginally open with a flimsy projection showing up between them, reasonable addressing the tongue. The ears show up as tab-like half circle structures distending uniquely from one or the other side of the head. The top and curve of the appropriate left ear are pierced with round openings, which would whenever have held ear adornments. 

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The appropriate right ear is disintegrated however shows the remnants of comparable openings in the top and curve. There are a few old cut marks, made by a metal sharp edge, on the legitimate right cheek, eye, and forehead. The shoulders are expansive while the middle shows up as a tightening three-sided structure. The erect phallus is cut in help on the lower midsection. 

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The legs are solid with the knees somewhat bowed and the feet are delivered as slight, board like structures. The toes are outlined with etched scores and the toenails are shown. The hands are profoundly point by point with the knuckles and fingernails delivered in naturalistic detail. The back, legitimate right side, and base of the figure are fairly disintegrated and there is a little, somewhat later misfortune to the little finger of the legitimate right hand.