Brass, Silver, 6k Gold
3cm x 3cm, 4cm x 4cm
Lost wax casting, metal forming

A collection of rings that allude to the designs and shapes found in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. The people of the Cordillera didn’t really have contact with Spanish and American settlers as their tribes were deep in the northern mountainside. As such, they were able to continue practicing their arts and crafts.

In this collection I explore how I can translate their traditional designs into modern adornments.

The first set of rings symbolize river and rice and are prepared entirely from metal forming techniques. The rice ring sits over the river ring to suggest their relationship. River and rice patterns are commonly found in traditional Cordillera tattoos.

The overall form of the third ring is inspired by pre-colonial Filipino gold adornments and was prepared by wax sculpting. The design is of carabao horns that are framing the lingling-o. The carabao is an animal often associated with strength due to its contribution in rice farming and the lingling-o is an indigenous symbol from the northern Philippines that symbolizes fertility and creation.