Headdress (panglao or kalaw)

Bells, beads, bones, beaks—Southeast Asians made jewelry from a vast array of materials, both imported and local. Traditions of jewelry making are especially rich among the peoples of the Luzon highlands of the Philippines.

This remarkable warrior's headdress is made from the skull of a hornbill that has been fastened on to a wicker and wood framework. It is further decorated with beads, shell, and metal.

The hornbill had religious significance among island groups in both Borneo and the Philippines. Among the Ilongot of the northern Luzon, a headdress like this would have been worn by a warrior who had taken an enemy head. Its red color is said to evoke the energy associated with the now long-outlawed pursuit of headhunting. Unfortunately, items of personal adornment are still occasionally made from endangered species, such as elephants and hornbills, although the export of these products is illegal.