Antique Alho (Pestle) with Metal Stand from the Philippines - 44.5" H

Hard-to-find, 100+ year-old Philippine pestle stick (alho). These pestles are important symbols of traditional Filipino agriculture and way of life. Pestles (alho/hal-o/bayo) and mortars (lusong) are basic equipment by which to separate the husk and the grain by pounding the rice grains (palay) to separate and remove the hulls. 

This piece has beautiful signs of age with marks created from the original carving along with wear from daily use hand pounding grains. Each antique pestle in our inventory was constructed out of a dense tropical wood from Northern Luzon. 

This listing is for a pestle – wooden mortars can be found under separate listings on the site. The pestles are all individually unique pieces of art due to their hand-carved shape, size, coloration, patina from use, and the fact that each is presented on a custom metal stand. Each base/stand has been newly powder coated matte black, is sturdy for both low or high traffic areas (constructed with 1 in. thick metal plate), and elevates the pestle several inches off of the ground for better display/viewing. 

Buy one, or the whole collection, as they would be perfect in a variety of residential, commercial or hospitality settings from Coastal and Wabi Sabi... to Rustic or Organic Modern. 

Place of Origin: N. Luzon, Philippines  

Date of Manufacture: late-19th Century  

Condition: Excellent 

Wear: Consistent with age and use. Please refer to pictures.  

Dimensions:  

Pestle: 39 in H X 3.25 in. Diam.

Base: 8 in. L X 8 in. W X 1 in. H

Total: 44.5 in. H

Reference: 

Simbolismo Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Lusong ug Alho

National Museum of the Philippines

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology at Harvard University

Field Museum

Museo Kordilyera

N. Philippine Times: Lusong, Lalu, Bayo, Museums & Cooperatives by Richard Kinnud

Explore more Asian Carved Wood at Our Taste Design.