Mr. Ramon Villegas, an antique jeweler and historian was the person I could go to to give accurate information on old Filipino jewelry. He would not only date them but gave interesting tidbits as well. Several years ago, while making promotional materials for my online business, I asked if I could quote his book. While this was originally written by my friend, Rachelle Medina, he obliged and even gave a suggested edited quote which I still use to this day: “When the Philippines became a Spanish colony, devotional jewelry came to replace native amulets and talismans. To the converted Filipinos, it was not only a way to express their new Christian faith but also to adorn themselves, even as they followed strict austerity measures imposed by the Spanish crown on all subjects.

Filipinos wore cross and scapular pendants and rosaries. The latter were made of tamborin beads, referring to the filigree technique, which utilized fine wires and granules worked within a tambour or frame. In the beginning, the rosario necklaces had beads arranged in decades, interspersed with larger pater noster beads.

By the 19th century, they came to be known as tamborin necklaces, which were merely based on the rosary form. Even the pendants or relicarios did not contain actual relics or religious symbols anymore, merely romantic leaf and flower forms. They were made in gold, silver and gilt copper until the mid-20th century. Only a handful of aging artisans remember the way they were made.

It was common to divide the tamborin necklaces among children. Many were melted down and recycled into new adornments. The tamborin necklaces that we occasionally find today are rare examples that have survived only because several generations loved the heirlooms enough to care for them.”

Reference: Ramon N. Villegas. The Philippine Jewellery Tradition. Vol. III Kayamanan Series. Manila: Central Bank of the Philippines, 1983. A few months before he passed away, I’ve been meaning to visit his shop to buy his other books and get his opinion on this interesting piece of tamburin that I recently acquired. Sadly, I never got to see him again. So this is my simple thank you and hope you are at peace.