Made by hand in our partner workshop in China  ·  Shipped worldwide  ·  Every symbol comes with its sources
Atlas  /  For safe travels  /  Anting-antingNo. 39
Plate ISoutheast Asia · PhilippinesAnting-anting, drawn by Wishlore
Pl. IAnting-anting. A small round bronze medallion. Drawing: Wishlore.
No. 39  ·  For safe travels  ·  Southeast Asia

The anting-anting

A Filipino amulet, often a bronze medallion. Early Spanish records describe it as a warrior’s charm, and revolutionaries carried it in the 1890s.

Earliest record
Carried by 1890s Filipino revolutionaries
Source
Philippine Daily Inquirer, on the anting-anting
Region
Southeast Asia · Philippines
Wish
For safe travels
Layers
Record Folk Modern
Keep this symbol · from £2.99Read the sources
The story · three layers

The story, in three layers.

Record, Folk and Modern are kept apart, and each one carries its source.

I
Record
Spanish colonial period to the 1890s

A warrior’s charm

Early Spanish records describe the anting-anting as a warrior’s amulet. Filipino revolutionaries carried them in the 1890s.

To verify: Name the early Spanish source

II
Folk
Manila, today

Outside Quiapo Church

In folk Catholic belief, people wear it against the evil eye, and even against bullets. Medallions are sold outside Quiapo Church in Manila.

III
Modern
Wishlore, today

How we tell it

We report what people believe, and make no claim that a medallion keeps anyone from harm.

Anting-anting
Carried by 1890s Filipino revolutionaries
Story and sources on the reverse
Pl. IIThe story card. Every printed piece carries the story and a code that opens the full source list.
Keep it close

How would you like to keep it?

Add to bag · £8
  • No jewellery for this symbol yet; story card and download only
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Watch the story

The story, in a minute.

It opens with the pencil construction, then follows the record, how people used it, and the piece we make today. Every fact in it comes from the sources on this page.

Length
0:55
Narration
English, with subtitles on screen
Images
Pencil construction and the atlas drawing on this page, animated; no AI images; jewellery shown as a line drawing
Sources
Listed at the end of the film
Story film · 0:55 · Drawn from the atlas plate · no AI images
In one breath
Carried by revolutionaries in the 1890s. Who would you keep it for?
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