Ifugao Prestige Bench 'Hagabi' made world history as the most expensive Filipino artifact

Photo Courtesy || Philippine Star

Cordillera - This 13 foot-long "Ifugao Prestige Bench" known locally as 'hagabi' has made world history as the most expensive Filipino artifact. 

The hagabi of Ifugao was priced to a world record of $460,000 or equivalent to P22 million during a recent Leon Gallery Kingly treasure auction last November 28, 2020, according to Philippine Star.

This is so far the highest price paid for Philippine indigenous item as it surpassed previous world record of the 'bulul', another Ifugao artifact priced at $280,000. 

Hagabi is a traditional large ceremonial benches carved for wealthy Ifugao families as a symbol of wealth, power and prestige. 

The bench serves as a symbol of a prestigious "hagabi feast" in which the carving of the bench marks the beginning of the celebration. 

In the past, only the the wealthy called 'cadangyans' were allowed to have hagabi which to be used inside their home. 

Knowing the price of the hagabi during the action, one aficionado said: "It's a proud day for all of the Philippines to be recognized in the world of ethnic arts, this news will spread like wildfire in the international tribal arts collector community. They will go nuts."

source || Philippine Star & galenlowe