Model of a boat

National Anthropology Museum Madrid

19th century

CE1589

Philippines

wood, bejuco fibre, bamboo
techniques: carving, basketry technique

length: 21cm
width: 3.50cm

The main nucleus of the collections of the Philippines and the Mariana and Caroline Islands of the National Museum of Anthropology come from the exhibition on these places held in Madrid, with the naturalist Domingo Sánchez being responsible for the Commission in Manila. The exhibition was inaugurated on June 30, 1887 in the Palacio de la Minería -today the Palacio de Velázquez- and in the Palacio de Cristal in the Parque del Retiro. Then the objects passed to the Overseas Library Museum, created in 1887 in order to house the objects of the Monographic Exhibition on the Philippines, Marianas and Carolinas and other subsequent special and periodic ones of products from the overseas colonies, and settling in the Palace of the Mining. The Museum was closed in 1908 and the objects most directly related to Ethnology and Physical Anthropology passed to the Anthropology, Ethnography and Prehistory Section of the Museum of Natural Sciences. [A red stamp appears on the card: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY Nº Rº 331. It refers to the new numbering given as a result of RD 694/1993, of May 7, by which the MNA was created.]
Cataloging by Romero de Tejada and Picatoste, Pilar.

Model of a boat, called banquilla, which is used to transport passengers on rivers or for short distances along the coast. Currently the oar has been replaced by the motor. Boats are essential for fishing and for sea and river transport. They are generally canoes dug out of a tree trunk, which originally carried square sails made of vegetable fibers. Later, a bamboo or batanga rocker was added, which increased their speed and ensured great stability. In addition to the sails, oars, payyas, poles and the motor are used as a means of propulsion.

photo by Miguel Angel Otero

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