Beaded Blouse

B’laan people, Mindanao, Philippines
Circa 1890-1920
Cotton, handmade shell disks
14 x 45 in / 36 x 114 cm
Price on Request

Ex Collection Valerie Hector

This remarkable blouse was created using hand-carved shell disks that are both aesthetically pleasing and a storage of value. Thousands of hours of hard labor were required to make so many organic sequins. That the blouse is a tailored garment made from cotton may be said to represent a later Indian influence, probably in the 4th century, about the time Indians introduced cotton.